Norman Lane Pate

Norman Pate, 78, of Woodway, passed away on March 26, 2022 surrounded by his family.  A visitation will be held 2-3 PM with a service to follow at 3 PM, on Sunday April 3, 2022 at Grace Gardens Funeral Home Chapel, with Pastor John Rambeau officiating.

Norman was born March 13, 1944 in Haleyville, Alabama, the youngest child of Henry Rayburn Pate and Celeste Long Pate.  He was blessed with a wonderful family.  In addition to beloved parents, siblings, and in-laws, his nieces, nephews and cousins were treasured by him.  Growing up in Haleyville he was active in football, baseball and other sports, and graduated from Haleyville High School in 1962.  He also attended Florence State University.

His work at Winston Industries/Crimson Homes brought Norman to Texas in 1973.  But before leaving Alabama and while working at Crimson he had the good fortune to meet the lady he regularly referred to as the love of his life, and on September 22, 1973 Norman and Susie Pate married in McGregor, TX.  This September would have been their 49th wedding anniversary.  Norman and Susie went on to have two kids, Lane and Ashley.  When the kids came, Susie’s mother Agnes and Aunt Irene moved from Alabama to live with Norman and Susie, and they continued to do so until they both passed decades later.  Only a great man would agree for his mother in-law and her sister to live with them for such a period!  But Norman adored both and considered Agnes to be a second mother, and she lived with him longer than he was able to spend with his own beloved mother.

Norman and Susie weren’t just life partners, but also partners in business.  That says a lot about a couple, when you can be together nearly 24/7 and never lose love and affection.  They worked together at Brigadier Manufacturing Plant, and when it closed they went into business for themselves under the name Brigadier Homes of Waco.  He loved being a small business owner, and developed so many friendships from his associations in the industry, his employees, and his clients.  His passion was providing quality manufactured housing to the community and developing his business.  Norman and Susie were blessed with life-long friends, some of whom even attended their wedding all those years ago, and when you have close friends for that length of time they are family.

Travel was something that Norman was always enthusiastic about.  In the early years of his career he traveled as a salesman, and his work in the manufactured home industry allowed him to take regular trips with his family inside and outside of the US.  He loved traveling with family and friends, and when he retired traveling was the thing he looked forward to most.

Norman was an avid fan of the Alabama Crimson Tide.  When Lane and Ashley each went to Texas A&M he found a new team to support, for his kids, unless they were playing Alabama of course.  Being a football season ticket holder at Texas A&M, the A&M alumni in the surrounding seats got quite the shock on A&M-Alabama game days when he’d show up in crimson red instead of his usual maroon.  He also loved the Dallas Stars and traveled to Dallas sometimes two or three times a week starting in the mid-90’s to attend games.

For their 45th wedding anniversary Norman had the wild idea to renew their wedding vows, which they did in a Las Vegas wedding chapel with an Elvis-impersonator officiating, in front of friends and family.

Norman is survived by his wife Susie, children Lane and Ashley, sister in-law Lola Murphy Pate, nieces Vicki and Rhonda, nephews Scott, Chris, Ray and Dave, as well as countless cousins and other family and friends.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association.  The guest book is offered at https://www.gracegardensfh.com/obituary/Norman-Pate where you may leave your condolences or a fond memory about Norman.

Registry for Norman Lane Pate