Norma Elizabeth Tate

Norma Elizabeth Tate, 85, longtime Seminole resident, went to be with her Lord and Savior on Thursday, April 30, 2020. Norma was born November 3, 1934 in Colony, Oklahoma to Stewart and Olive (Gyles) Barnes. Norma grew up on her family farm as a young girl where she was the 7th born of 10 children. Later she attended Southwestern Bible College.  Norma moved to Seminole in 1975 from Enid, Oklahoma with her husband Rev. Floyd Tate. Norma married Floyd James Tate at the Oak Cliff  Assembly of God Church in Dallas, Texas on July 25, 1959, they had  44 plus, wonderful years together serving God together. Norma loved decorating, making floral arrangements, she loved taking nothing and make something wonderful and unique with whatever she had, she was a very artistic and creative person and loved glue guns, mauve and glitter. Norma loved Christmas time, it was her favorite time of the year, and she had “Dillard’s” trees in every room of her home.  The most important part of her life was being a Christian, a faithful wife and wonderful Mother. Her faith in God was strong; she was a woman of faith who spent her time in intercessory prayer for others, especially her family. Her prayer life was very important to her. Her Faith and Trust in God, made her family strong in their service to God. She and her husband Rev. Floyd Tate had pastored churches in Wellston, Wewoka, Boulder and Enid before coming to the First Assembly of God church in Seminole. In 1980 they co-founded and co-pastored the Tri-City Christian Center, ( Now Immanuel Fellowship, north of Seminole State College), where she was a member. She was a faithful member and speaker of the Women’s Christian Temperance Union for many years, giving lectures, and writing articles for their magazine. People were her passion. She always had Tuesday Prayer Meetings at her home and taught an adult Sunday School Class at church. In the mid 1990’s and early 2000’s, Norma and Floyd, were substitute teachers at Seminole High School, who were never afraid to teach young students about Jesus. Norma leaves to cherish her memories of her daughter Cathy Sims and her husband Steve of Seminole, Oklahoma, Tim Tate and his wife Kym of Seminole, Oklahoma, her sister Dixie Hayes of Gary, Oklahoma, her brother Mack Barnes of Colony, Oklahoma, her grandchildren whom she loved dearly; Lynsie Jana’ Stay and her husband Brian, Kaylee Brook Swett and her husband Jeremiah, Tyler Tate and his wife Tessa, and Krystyn Tate and her fiance’ Jacob Myers and three great grandchildren; Lukas Edison Stay, Briana Elizabeth Stay, and Trett Timothy Tate. A celebration of life graveside service will be held at 10:00 A.M., Tuesday, May 5, 2020at Maple Grove Cemetery, in Seminole, Oklahoma. Rev. Drew Isaacs will officiate at the service. The family will greet friends and family at the funeral home for a visitation on Monday, May 4, 2020 from 5:00 to 7:00 P.M. Honorary Bearers will be: Loran Greenlee, Brian Stay, Tyler Tate, Jeremiah Swett, Aaron Barnes and Rocky Walker. There will be a tribute video presented on the Facebook pages of Tim Tate and Cathy Walker-Sims Monday before the services. The family invites you to view this tribute. The graveside service will be aired on Facebook Live on the Facebook Page of Swearingen Funeral Home.   Funeral Information: May 5, 2020, 10:00 AM Graveside Services at Maple Grove Cemetery on West Strother Street located at seminole, seminole, OK 74868