Edward Francis Tate Jr.

Edward Francis Tate, Jr., CLU, ChFC, LUTCF (7/18/1943 – 6/10/2023)
Eddie filled his “dash between the years” in servant leadership, both as an independent life insurance agent and Registered Rep for his clients and to God, his family and many friends and others.
Ever the entrepreneur, Eddie created his own baseball team, “Tate’s V-8’s,” offered neighborhood landscaping and held a “Fort Worth Star-Telegram” paper route for years in his youth. Before graduation from Texas Christian University in 1965 with a degree in accounting, Eddie served as president of Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity while selling pans for VitaCraft to finance the majority of his education. He then completed his military service in the Naval Air Reserve (Dallas).
For over 40 years, Eddie was a loyal member of the National Assoc. of Insurance and Financial Advisors (NAIFA) serving as President and National Committeeperson of NAIFA-Ft. Worth, where he received the Community Service Award, the Four Pillars Award and the Career Service Award, which recently was named for him. As Trustee of the NAIFA-Texas Association, he was both surprised and honored with the Bruce Murray Tall Texan Award. LILI (Leadership in Life Institute) inspired him, and he participated in every annual summit from its inception, always a speaker when asked. Eddie mentored new agents and encouraged them to join and support their Association and always “have courage and be kind.”
As a long-time member of Reveille Toastmasters, Eddie enjoyed public speaking and used it to benefit others, serving several years as Lay Speaking Director of the East Fort Worth District of the United Methodist Church. At City Point UMC (fka Richland Hills), he taught Sunday School classes from ages youth to the lovely elders, was Lay Leader, and President of United Methodist Men and also Treasurer for many years. Eddie felt blessed to sing tenor in the choir and especially loved performing in several summer musicals, his favorite roles being Max in “The Sound of Music,” and Harold Hill in “The Music Man.”
Eddie is survived by his beloved family, wife of nearly 56 years, Dana Gant Tate; daughter, Rev. Amy Tate-Almy and husband, Mike; daughter, Gayle C. Tate; grandson, Lucas F. Almy; brother, Dr. Paul Tate; special “sister,” Cheryl Gant Ray and nephew, James Bower, and Margey with all of the Almy kids, whom he considered his own; and numerous cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.
“A real life, simple and sincere, and even naïve, is the only life where all the potential grandeur and beauty of human existence can be found.” (Ayn Rand, THE FOUNTAINHEAD)
A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, July 8, at 11 am at City Point UMC, 7301 Glenview Drive, 76180. If you are able to attend, please wear red, Eddie’s favorite color.
Flowers are welcome always. Donations can be made to the following:
Dystonia Medical Foundation at https://dystonia-foundation.org
City Point UMC Memorial Garden Fund at www.citypointumc.org
Community Health Care Texas at www.CHOT.org