Jimmy Norman Tate, 83, of Dickson, Oklahoma, passed away peacefully on Monday, March 10, 2025, at his home in Dickson, after a courageous fight with pancreatic cancer.  He was born on September 8, 1941, in Madill, Oklahoma to the late Elzie James Tate and Repard Lois (Ayres) Tate.  Jimmy was raised in Madill where he graduated high school in 1959.  He later attended Murray State College in Tishomingo, Oklahoma and served in the Oklahoma National Guard.  He had several changes in occupations throughout his life including truck driving, seismograph work for Petty Ray Geosource, owning a Cabell's dairy truck route, driving for Total Petroleum, and ending his final work with Carter County.  The jobs he held earlier in his career allowed him to experience (and live in) many states across the country before he and his family moved from West Virginia to Ardmore, Oklahoma in 1975, giving up seismographing and the frequent moves that were a part of that line of work.  He then settled in Dickson over forty years ago, where he enjoyed his land and the rural life.

Jimmy was affiliated with the First Baptist Church in Dickson and enjoyed woodworking, gardening and music, especially the golden oldies.  Old cars were a big part of his life.  He loved finding and rebuilding old classic cars and attending car shows over the years where he won many first-place awards.  He loved his dogs, playing his guitar and was affectionately known by many as "JJ".

He is survived by:

Children:                      Jimmy Michael Tate and wife Vicki, Ardmore, Oklahoma

Kimberly Sue (Tate) Henley and husband Chris, Coppell, Texas

Grandchildren:             Krista Tate, Lacey (Tate) Worley, Michael Tate,

Jonathan Henley, Parker Henley, Preston Henley, River Tate

Best Friend:                 Debra Kent, Dickson, Oklahoma

Partner in Crime:         David Minyard, Dickson, Oklahoma

Sisters:                        Carolyn Sue (Tate) Jackson, Tulsa, Oklahoma

Ramona Faye (Tate) Mayfield, Crowley, Texas

Jimmy was preceded in death by his parents, Elzie Tate and Repard Tate; sons, Kyle Randall Tate and Gregory Jim Tate, granddaughter, Sophia Grace Henley.

Funeral Service will be Saturday, March 15, 2025, at the Watts Memorial Chapel, Funeral Home, Madill, Oklahoma at 10:00 am.  John Hatfield will officiate the service. Music arranged by Boomer Hatfield. Interment will be at the Woodberry-Forest Cemetery, Madill, Oklahoma.  Services will be under the direction of Watts Funeral Home, Madill, Oklahoma. Condolences may be sent to wattsfuneralhome.com.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to Shriners Children's at https://www.shrinerschildrens.org/en/giving.

Pallbearers:                     David Minyard, Mark Minyard, Kenny Brooks, Mark Jackson, Troy Tate and Mike Agan

Honorary Pallbearers:      His Sunday School Class at First Baptist Church, Dickson, Oklahoma