Leatha Mae Tate

Leatha Mae Tate was born September 8, 1940, in Kansas City, Kansas to James and Ethel (Pearson) Tate, and passed away peacefully June 27, 2018, in Oklahoma City, surrounded by her family. Leatha grew up in the Bentonville, Arkansas, and Enid area. She graduated from Enid High School, and obtained her BS in biology from Phillips University and her Masters in Education from Wichita State University. After graduation she worked as a medical technologist for St. Mary’s Hospital. One of her many great achievements was the many years she worked as a teacher at Robinson Junior HS and East HS in Wichita, Kansas as a science teacher. She was honored multiple times by the Kansas Board of Education for her innovative and successful teaching methods. Leatha finished her long career working for the State of Oklahoma in the Department of Tourism and the Department of Corrections (Child Protective Services). Leatha was well known for her artistic, interior design, and musical abilities. She also was highly recognized for her public speaking. She shared these talents with her family and was a stickler for all holidays and family functions to be planned out in great detail and executed properly. Leatha also enjoyed gardening and loving on her little dog, Annie and her 40lb cat Tater. She took advantage of her retirement years to help anyone in need. She loved her family and with her smile and laughter was always able to make everything better. Leatha loved the Lord and was not shy about sharing her faith. She was an active member of Seventh Day Adventist Church and loved her church family. Her family and all who knew her will miss her love, her guidance, her humor, her laugh, her stories, and her willingness to jump in and get things done. We celebrate knowing Leatha is with our Lord & Savior having run a good race, and knowing she is surely busy with multiple tasks and “organizing” everything. Leatha was preceded in death by her parents James and Ethel Tate (Young), and her brother, Ronald Tate. Leatha is survived by her 2 sons Michael and wife Dawn O’Brien of Enid, John Jones of San Diego; 6 grandchildren, Christopher O’Brien and wife Jessica, Lauren O’Brien, Jade Jones, Keegan Jones, Wyatt Jones, and Everett Jones; 1 great grandchild Gentry O’Brien. Funeral service for Leatha will be 2:00 PM, Monday at Anderson-Burris Funeral Home Chapel with Pastor Dave Miller officiating. Burial will follow in Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation for family and friends will be Sunday 4:00 to 5:00 at Anderson-Burris Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made through the funeral home to SPCA-Enid.

Leatha Mae Tate

September 8, 1940 - June 27, 2018