David L Tate

David Laswell Tate, age 85, passed away peacefully on September, 21, 2024, at The Gables in Wichita Falls, Texas. He was born April 5, 1939, in Lubbock, Texas, to Lorene and Erton Tate. He was a proud resident of Wichita Falls, Texas, and a graduate of Wichita Falls High School, where he was a National Merit Scholar and was on the tennis team, winning 2nd place in the state finals his senior year. He attended Rice University on a full academic scholarship, where he earned his Chemical Engineering degree and then went on to graduate from The University of Texas Law School. He joined Nelson, Montgomery & Robertson, a longtime Wichita Falls law firm, in 1962 and practiced law with such firm and its successors, including the current firm of Tate, Gowan & Wilson (including the opening of its Fort Worth office in 2003), where he retired after tirelessly helping countless clients for over 50 years. He was knowledgeable in numerous areas of law and was a lifetime learner, always reading and studying about the global economy, business trends, political science and current events around the world.

Later in his life, he met his sweetheart, Peggy Joyce Tate, and got married on 5/30/81 in Austin, Texas. They brought each other many years of happiness in the 50 years they were together. He and Peggy traveled to seventy-one countries together. Sometimes just the two of them would go, but most trips were with the Rice Alumni or the Smithsonian Institute. They loved experiencing and learning about different cultures. David lived a fulfilling and active life which included family and friends. He loved visits to the family ranch in Montague County where he worked with cattle, gardened, fished and held large family reunions and Thanksgiving gatherings. He was an avid sports fan and loved attending games over the years and especially MSU games. He loved playing golf and being outdoors. He enjoyed being a member of Floral Heights United Methodist Church where he served on the Board of Trustees. He loved singing hymns and studying the Bible with others. David was appreciative of lifelong relationships and nurtured those friendships all of his life. Of all David’s connections, he especially enjoyed the friendship and support of his older brother and longtime law partner, Frank, throughout his life.

David had a big heart. He stepped into his role as stepfather when he married Peggy and over time, he developed close and loving relationships with each one of his stepchildren. He loved caring for his parents as they grew older and they were always important to him. He kept up with all of his extended family, including many aunts, uncles, cousins, nephews, nieces, great-nephews, grandkids and great-grandkids. In his later years, David cared for his beloved Peggy faithfully as she fought dementia for eight long years, and despite spending much of that time in the nursing home with her, he never lost his sense of humor and interest in others around him. David enjoyed his life fully and truly cared about others. He will be missed more than words can say. His legacy of love, service, and devotion will forever live on in the hearts of those he touched.

He is survived by his brother, Frank Tate, his four stepchildren, Cary Cupit, Jeanie Stroud and her husband, Rick, Alegria Cupit and her partner, Andrea Strauss and Jon Cupit, his nephew, Wally Tate, his niece, Lori Tate and her partner, David Ledel, his grandchildren, Dustin Evans and his wife, Vanessa, Kristen Evans, Ari Strauss, Ian Strauss, his great-granddaughter, Emilia, and his great-nephews, Will Tate and Ford Tate.

To honor David's memory, a service will be held in the Chapel at Hampton Vaughan Crestview Funeral Home in Wichita Falls, on Saturday, October 5th, at 1:00 p.m. with a reception following and private burial at 3:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests considering a donation in David's honor to your favorite charity or to The James L. West Center for Dementia Care in Fort Worth.