As many of you may have heard, Nancy "MarMar" Tate, 68, passed away Tuesday, October 26, 2010 in Lawton, Oklahoma. MarMar was known around the sheep industry in so many ways. She raised sheep for years that won banners around the country (pictured below), owned and operated MoBetta shirts with her family, and attended shows across the country with a big smile and kind words for everyone! MarMar will truly be missed by all in the sheep industry.

Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Friday at the Apache Memorial Gymnasium with Jimmy Steve Massey officiating and the Rev. Michael Dye assisting. Burial will follow in Fairview Cemetery under direction of Crews Funeral Home.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Nancy Tate Memorial Scholarship Fund at Shamrock Bank, PO Box 317, Apache, OK 73006.
Feel free to read her obituary below:

She was born Nov. 27, 1941, in Chickasha, to Maurice W. and Mary Ellen Goodman. She attended school at Apache and graduated with the Class of 1959. While in school, Nancy loved playing on the basketball team, showing livestock and riding and competing on her horses. Following graduation, she attended Oklahoma State University and Cameron College. She later attained her cosmetology license in Altus and owned and operated a beauty shop in Apache for 22 years. On Oct. 28, 1964, she married Virgil O. "Bub" Tate inVernon, Texas. He preceded her in death in August of 2007. She became the Oklahoma State High School Rodeo Association secretary in 1984 and served in that capacity for 15 years. During this time, many lifelong friendships were established whom she followed on through college, amateur and professional rodeo ranks.

For the past 10 summers, Nancy enjoyed being secretary for F&F Rodeo Company of Marlow, OK. Nancy loved bragging about her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren in all of their activities and was constantly attending and supporting their efforts. Even the opposition competitors knew and were fond of "MarMar." She was an avid sports fan who kept up with baseball, softball, basketball, football and rodeo at every levelfrom PeeWees on up to the professional athletes. She attended every game she could get to, and, if she was unable to attend in person, she had the games tuned in on her television or radio.

In 1987, Nancy and her family started designing and selling Western shirts out of her beauty shop. As demand increased for the shirts, the business expanded into a new store and shirt factory called MoBetta. Soon, Garth Brooks and other musicians, rodeo contestants, drill teams, NASCAR crews, square dance teams and numerous others began purchasing their custom-made designs. Nancy loved all animals and was alwaysaccompanied by her little white dog, Peek-a-Boo. In addition, she took special pride in her sheep flock and raised and sold many award-winning lambs with her partner, Chad Charmasson.

Nancy is survived by two daughters: Anne Denton, Apache; and Mary Kaye Turner, Lawton; one son and his wife, Maury and Nikki Tate, Apache; eight grandchildren: Jacob and Dominique Denton, Jenna and Dale Bellamy, Jayme Denton, Jared and Candy Turner, Chase Turner, Kaylee Turner, Cydney Tate and Hadley Tate; five great-grandchildren: Kyler Denton, Kanon Denton, Dru Bellamy, Kaylor Turner and Acen Turner; two brothers: John Goodman, Apache; and Joey and wife, Brigitte Goodman, Lawton; and two sisters and their husbands: Becky and Bob Kerr, Carnegie; and Martha and Jack White, Calumet.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Bub Tate; and two sons: Jonathon Alan Tate and Robert Joel Tate.


Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.crewsfh.com.