A devoted husband, father, grandfather, son, brother, uncle, and friend, Steve was born on October 12, 1960, in Searcy, Arkansas, to parents Patricia (Weaver) Reed and Larry Pate. He spent the majority of his 59 years in the Kansas City area, where he married the love of his life, Tricia, on June 27, 1981, and was blessed with four beautiful daughters. A master electrician by trade, he opened Steve's Bait and Tackle in 2000 in Smithville, Missouri. He later resumed working as an electrician before retiring to become a full-time handyman for his children.
Nothing was more important to Steve than his family, his pride and joy. An avid fisherman and hunter, he enjoyed camping and loved teaching his children and grandchildren how to fish and hunt alongside him. He spent countless hours tending to his beautiful garden, enjoying many summer nights with Tricia in the backyard of the home they shared together for more than 30 years. He had the incredible ability to strike up a conversation with a stranger and make a friend for life. Known for his mischievous smile and sense of humor, Steve will be fondly remembered and forever missed by all those who knew him.
Steve was preceded in death by his mother Patricia Reed; stepfather Tyler Reed; father-in-law Leo Ansell; brother John Pate; uncle Ben Weaver; paternal grandparents Arnold and Velma Pate; and maternal grandparents Delmar and Marie Fair.
He is survived by his beloved wife Tricia; children Amanda and Kelli Pate, Jennifer and Lance Fletcher, Heather Pate and Staci Stahlheber; grandchildren Elisabeth and Addison Fletcher, Kelsi and Devin Wolf, and Cortni and Colton Stahlheber; father Larry Pate; mother-in-law Clara Jean Ansell; siblings Sandy and Aaron Meyer, Rebecca Pate, Nicole and Bryan DeLeve, Marlena and Sam Tehee, Cheryle and Billy Ellis, and Pam and Mark Chapman; countless nieces and nephews; best buddy Bob Affolter; many close friends; and fur children Skrunch, Jack, and Rowdy.
