Ray C. Tate

Ray C. ?Pete? Tate, 87, Kingsport, went to be with the Lord on Friday, February 9, 2007, at Brookhaven Manor following a lengthy illness.

He was born in Wise County, VA, but lived most of his life in Kingsport. Pete served in the U. S. Army during World War II as a Technician Corporal, 773rd Amphibious Tractor Battalion from March 1942 until November 1945. He retired from Mason Dixon Truck Lines.

Pete loved to hunt, fish, and camp with his family and friends. He was a member of Victory Independent Baptist Church in Gate City, VA.

Preceding him in death were his wife, Margaret ?Peggy? Gibson Tate; his parents, Fred Ray and Ceba Ellen Canter Tate; brothers, Hale Clayton ?Bill? and Roy Vernon ?Bob?; and sisters, Della Young, Edna Tate, Dolly Gillenwater, Haselteen Lane, Juanita Dean, Lorene Collins, and Mary Sue Tate.

Surviving are two daughters and sons-in-law, Carolyn and Rocky Buchanan, Kingsport and Jennifer and Andrew Easterling, Blountville; three grandchildren, Bryan and Scott Buchanan, and Christine Easterling Booher; two great-grandchildren, Katie and Morgan Buchanan; one sister, Helen Corene Dockery; one brother, Norman ?Bud? Tate; a special sister-in-law, Martha Tate; several nieces and nephews; and his loyal pet beagle, ?Curly?.

The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday at Hamlett-Dobson Funeral Homes, Kingsport.

Services will follow at 8 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home with Pastor Scott Fields officiating.

Graveside services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Monday at Oak Hill Memorial Park with military rites by the American Legion Post No. 3/265 and the Tennessee National Guard.

Family members and friends will serve as pallbearers.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Meals on Wheels, P. O. Box 7268, Kingsport, TN 37664 or the Sullivan County Rescue Squad, P. O. Box 706, Blountville, TN 37617.