Marvin Earl Tate

Marvin Earl Tate, age 89, a resident of rural Fort Scott, Kan., died Thursday, June 17, 2010, at the Mercy Health Center in Fort Scott. He was born March 31, 1921, in Calloway County, Mo,, the son of Oscar Lee Tate and Ona May Palmer Tate.

Marvin was one of 17 children whose generation spanned 138 years. Marvin served in the United States Army with the Company B 2829th Engineer Battalion and was awarded bronze stars for campaigns in Central Europe, the Rhineland, Rome, Italy and Sicily. Following his military service, he married Marjorie E. Bobbitt on April 5, 1946, at Ava, Mo. In his earlier years, he had worked at the A.P. Green Fire Brick Company in Mexico, Mo. After relocating to Fort Scott, he worked as a carpenter. He also owned and operated Uncle Marvin's Attic located at the corner of First and Margrave Streets. Marvin faithfully attended the Parkway Church of God (Holiness) and had served as a church trustee. He was also an avid supporter of Fort Scott Christian Heights School and enjoyed their sporting events and fund raisers. Marvin also enjoyed coon hunting and fishing.

Survivors include his wife, Marjorie, of the home; his children, Nancy Martinez and husband, Juan, Eagle Pass, Texas, Kelly Tate and wife, Jan, and Jane Peck and husband, Darryl all of Fort Scott. Also surviving are nine grandchildren, six great-grandchildren with one more on the way and numerous extended family members. He was preceded in death by his parents, 16 brothers and sisters and a granddaughter.

The Rev. Mark Stetler will conduct funeral services at 10 a.m., Monday, June 21, at the Parkway Church of God (Holiness). Burial will follow in the U. S. National Cemetery, where military honors will be provided by the Olson Frary Burkhart Post No. 1165 Veterans of Foreign Wars. The family will receive friends from 2 -4 p.m., Sunday at the Cheney Witt Chapel. Memorials are suggested to Fort Scott Christian Heights School or to the Central Mission of Faith which is operated by Juan and Nancy Martinez and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, P.O. Box 347, Fort Scott, KS 66701.

Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at www.cheneywitt.com