Billy Louis Pate

Billy Louis Pate was born January 27, 1932, in Palestine, Texas to John Thomas Pate and Ruby Woody Pate.He went to be with his Lord on Thursday, February 4, 2016. Bill was preceded in death by his parents, his first wife Jean Pate, three sisters, Nadine Pate, Evelyn Blair, and Nelda Woolbright, and brother, Thomas Pate. He is survived by his wife of 25 years Carol Pate; three sons, Eddy Pate and wife Pam, Steve Pate and wife June, James Pate and wife Michelle, stepson Scott Ferguson and wife Amy, and stepdaughter Leia Patricia and husband Scott; eleven grandchildren, Paige Smith and husband Colton, Rachel Pate, April and Max Pate, Cameron and Brendon Ferguson, Alex Paxton, Austin and Maggie Patricia, and Cody and Shelbi Jones. Bill moved from Palestine to the Dallas area at a very young age.He attended Forest High School and enlisted in the United States Air Force at the age of eighteen.He served as a jet mechanic in Korea from 1952 to 1955, and later worked for Braniff Airways. In 1957, he became owner of Pate’s Food Mart, where he spent thirty years.In 1973, he also opened Eastside Tire and Alignment, from which he retired.His interest then turned to flowers and gardening.He was happiest when all of his family gathered together.