Jerry Kenneth Tate

1943 - 2016

TATE, Jerry Kenneth, age 72, of Winchester and formerly of Tracy City, was received by the Lord on Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2016 in his home while surrounded by family and friends. The beloved coach conquered a bout with Parkinson's for the past 18 years. Coach Tate is survived by his wife, Brenda Meeks Tate; one son, Mark Christopher Tate and JoVonna Lee VanHooser Tate; and two grandsons, Draven Justice Tate and Jerion Rylee Tate; and several cousins, nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his mother, Geraldine "Connie" Roberts Tate and father Jewell Angus Tate and a beloved grandmother, Ida Thompson Roberts. Coach Tate was a graduate of the Class of 1961 at Grundy County High School where he excelled in basketball. He was a member of the GCHS football team and several summer league baseball teams. He entered Tennessee Technological University where he was a graduate with a major in health, physical education and recreation. He received his MS and Ed. S degrees in administration and supervision from Tennessee Tech while teaching in public schools. Coach Tate began his coaching career in 1967, with a very successful football team at Whitwell High School where he was named to the All-Tri State coaching staff. In subsequent years, he coached in Elkmont Ala., DeKalb County, Coffee County, Grundy County and spent his last 13 years of coaching in Marion County where he was an assistant coach, winning four state championships during the decade of the 90's. While at Grundy County, he was a three time recipient of the coach of the year award in the Sequatchie Valley Conference for girls basketball. Coach Tate was best known for coaching football and girls basketball, but at various times in his career also coached boys basketball, track, wrestling and baseball. Coach Jerry Tate was widely known as a quiet and gentle mentor, listener and friend. His humility carried over as a son, husband, father and coach to enrich the lives of those with whom he came in contact. A visitation / memorial celebration of Coach Tate's life will be held at the Tracy City Church of Christ on Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2016, from 4 to 8 p.m. The family asks that memorial contributions, in lieu of flowers, be in the form of donations to the Michael J. Fox foundation at the website https://www.Michaeljfox.org for electronic contributions, via phone at 1-800-708-7644, or by mail to Donation Processing, The Michael J. Fox Foundation, P.O. Box 5014, Hagerstown, MD 21741-5014. On line condolences may be made at www.cumberlandfuneralhome.net. Arrangements are by Cumberland Funeral Home of Monteagle, 207 Mabee Ave., P.O. Box 247, Monteagle, 37356, 931-924-2381.