Dr. James (Jim) Oliver Tate, Sr. passed from this world on Friday, September 6th at home, surrounded by family. Jim was born April 29, 1929 to Otho Stanley Tate and Gertrude Stevens Tate in Love Town, near Love Field Airport in Dallas, Texas.
Jim was preceded in death by his parents, his brother, Clifford; sister, Lorene; and brother-in-law, Hoyt Smith.
Jim attended Knight Elementary School and graduated from Crozier Tech High School in Dallas. He attended Abilene Christian College for two years to become a minister, but transferred back home to SMU where he earned his bachelor's degree.
He was drafted into the Army, and served in the Korean War, where he was stationed in Caribou, Maine, in the radar unit. After his service, he returned to Love Town (Love Field) and worked for Southwestern Bell, before transferring to Topeka, Kansas and eventually Wichita, Kansas. While in Wichita, Jim met the love of his life, Janet Gerleman. They were married in Wichita on Thanksgiving Day, 1957, and moved to Denton, Texas. Jim attended graduate school at North Texas University where he is listed in Who’s Who, and earned his Master's and subsequently his Doctorate degree in psychology in 1961. He also earned Who’s Who in the South and Southwest, 12th Edition 1971-1972.
His career included teaching at East Central State College in Ada, and at the University of Oklahoma in Norman, before working as a clinical psychologist at the Oklahoma City Neuropsychiatric Clinic, where he retired in 1989 after 25-plus years with the clinic.
Jim is survived by his wife, Janet Tate; son, James Jr. (Jim) and his wife, Belinda, of Norman; son, Greg Tate, of Norman; daughter-in-law, Julie Dixon Tate, of Norman; son, Carter Tate, of Norman; son, Blair Tate and his wife, Staci, of Kansas City; eight grandchildren, James III (Jamie), Chris, Katie, Drew, Brooks, Logan, Sky, and Corey, and one great grandchild, Adalene.
Jim enjoyed the outdoors, and one of his greatest joys in life was taking his sons camping, fishing, hunting and golfing. Jim was a big sports fan and loved his Dallas Cowboys and Oklahoma Sooners. He also cherished playing golf with his friends, Hank S., and Big Ben E.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to The Wounded Warriors Project.
A private burial was held at IOOF cemetery in Norman, Oklahoma, under the direction of Primrose Funeral Home.
