Patricia Dean Atchison Tate passed peacefully from her battle with Alzheimer’s Disease on December 29, 2018, in Austin Texas. She was born the youngest of two to George Gately Atchison and Mary Criswell Atchison in Mangum Oklahoma on November 7, 1928. She graduated from Dumas High School in Dumas Texas. After graduation, her family moved to Amarillo, Texas, where she met her husband, Charles Oscar Tate, a Civil and Electrical Engineer with the Army Corp of Engineers.
Patricia had a life-long love of music. When she was young, Patricia played the piano. Later in life, music often played in her house. Chopin was one of her favorite composers and his Etude in E Major, Op 10, No 3, “Tristesse”, was her favorite. It was rare to see Patricia without a book in her hand. She instilled both the love of music and reading in her three children often taking them to concerts, plays, theater, and even musicals on screen. Beyond the love of the arts, Patricia also tried to instill in her children the value of integrity, a strong work ethic, honor, and the willingness to help others.
Patricia worked in finance and insurance most of her adult life as an office manager, adjuster, and claims manager for such companies as GMAC, State Farm, and Allstate. In Austin, she worked for William Gammon and Central Insurance Agencies. In an age of computers, she was one of the few who could rate a policy when lines were down. Co-workers often exclaimed she had forgotten more about insurance than they would ever learn.
As an adult, Patricia was confirmed into the Catholic faith at Saint Louis the King Catholic Church in Austin, Texas. She found her faith a comfort and something she could share with her family and those who knew her.
Patricia was predeceased by her husband Charles O. Tate, her brother Charles Russell Atchison and wife Billie of Amarillo, and her daughter Pamalia Annette Strickland of Lubbock Texas
She is survived by her daughter Vanessa Tate Matocha and husband David of Austin; son Richard F. Tate and wife Susan of Arizona; son-in-law Robert Strickland of Lubbock; her three grandchildren Les Strickland and wife Sheryl of Lubbock; Michael Strickland of Dallas; Melissa Pace-Russell and husband Jeremy of Watauga; and her three great-grandchildren Colten Pace and wife Amanda of Hurst; Caleb Pace and Catherine Pace of Watauga.
Services will be conducted on Saturday, February 16, 2019, at Saint Mary Cathedral Catholic Church 203 East 10th Street, Austin Texas 78701. Family and friends are invited to attend the rosary lead by Sir Knight Jon Dahm at 9:00 a.m. with the funeral mass following at 9:30 a.m., the Very Reverend Tim Nolt presiding.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in Patricia’s name to the St. Mary Cathedral Endowment Fund (contact church office 512-476-6182) or the non-profit Swan Song – Austin who provides the gift of music to individuals at the end of their life https://swansongs.org/how-to-help/donate/.
