Marian Diffley Pate

Marian Diffley Pate died peacefully at the age of 94 on April 20, 2025, Easter Sunday, at her home, Hearthside Senior Living in Bartlett, TN. She was born in Birmingham, AL on September 26, 1930 as the only child to James Heflin Diffley and Helen Kinnane of Birmingham, AL.

After high school in Sheffield, AL her family moved to Memphis, TN where she married Marvin E. Pate Jr. in 1950 at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church.

She is survived by their three sons, Marvin E. Pate III (Peggy Kiser) of Sewanee, TN; Glenn H. Pate of Memphis; John R. Pate (Teresa Dooley) of Somerville, TN; and two daughters, Denise P. Spencer of Lakeland, TN; Melissa E. Pate of Memphis; fourteen grandchildren, twenty-three great grandchildren, two step-great grandchildren, and many friends.

She earned a bachelor’s degree in education from Memphis State University in 1973 launching her devoted career as a beloved elementary school teacher for 40 years at schools in Memphis, Pickwick, and Millington.

With her love for learning, art, and gardening she inspired a family tradition of deep interest in many things. As the matriarch of a large family, she inspired and sponsored frequent big-family get-togethers and vacations.

The family will receive friends beginning at 4:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m., Sunday, April 27, 2025 at Memphis Funeral Home and Memorial Gardens, 3700 N. Germantown Road, Bartlett, TN with a funeral mass to be held at 10:00 a.m., Monday, April 28, 2025 at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, 8151 Chimneyrock Blvd., Cordova, TN. The interment will follow at Memphis Funeral Home and Memorial Gardens.

The family would like to also invite you for a reception following the interment at The Parish Life Center of St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that any donations in Marian’s memory be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.