Elnora Ann Tate

Elnora Ann (Bailey) Tate entered this world in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, on July 31, 1934. Her parents were Roy Chester and Octavia Faye (Cummings) Bailey. Ann went to her heavenly home while living at Burford Manor in Davis, Oklahoma, on October 7, 2025. Her family resided in Oklahoma City until Ann’s early high school years when her father was transferred by Phillips Petroleum Company to Clemscot, Oklahoma. Ann became a Christian as a young child. She loved listening to music, especially gospel music, attending church and camp meetings with her parents. Ann was a very gifted musician. At nine years of age she received a cherished gift of a piano from her parents. She fell in love with piano playing, able to read music as well as playing by ear. In junior high she learned to play the accordion and then the clarinet which she played through high school in band. As an adult Ann played the piano and organ for the Assembly of God Church in Lindsay, Oklahoma. Ann attended high school in Fox, Oklahoma, where she graduated in 1952. There she met her husband, Bill Tate, whom she married in January, 1953. They were blessed with three children: L’Ann, Sylvia, and Chris. Bill and Ann were married until August of 1974. During their time together as a family Bill was employed by Phillips Petroleum Company. They soon moved to Hobbs, New Mexico, in 1956, where they resided until 1966. Bill was transferred to Pauls Valley, Oklahoma, where they lived for a few short months, until moving onto Lindsay, Oklahoma. The family lived there until their children all graduated from high school. Ann had many other interests besides music, including decorating their home, flower arranging, gardening and sewing. She outfitted her girls with uniquely one-of-a-kind outfits from birth through their college years, often sewing for the public making many bridesmaids’ dresses. Ann was a stay-at-home mom, until L’Ann expressed her desire to attend college. In 1969, Ann went to work as the Lindsay elementary school secretary, where she was employed through her daughter’s college years assisting with her expenses. After that time Ann was employed by several clothing/gift stores. Then she became the city clerk of Lindsay followed by obtaining the job as Pauls Valley’s city clerk. Following those tenures she worked for Burford Corporation of Maysville, and Floyd Bergen Enterprises in Norman until she retired in 2004, at the age of seventy. Ann was preceded in death by her parents: Roy C. and Faye Bailey, her younger brother, Joe and his wife, Barbara; son-in-law, Kyle Lackey, and granddaughter Monika’s husband, Ryan Pratt. She is survived by her children: L’Ann Lackey of Sulphur, Oklahoma; Sylvia Nettleton and husband Mike of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; and Chris Tate and wife Carol of Mustang, Oklahoma. Survivors also include six grandchildren: Monika Pratt, Taylor Freeman (husband, Lee), Caitlin Collette (husband, Colby), Tyler Tettleton (wife, Alexis), Jessica Adkins (husband, Cole), Carson Tate (wife, Dakota), and James Nettleton (wife, Ricki) , along with eleven great grandchildren. There will be a private family celebration of her life at a later date.

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Elnora Ann Tate

July 31, 1934 - October 7, 2025