Woneta Mae Tate, of Hollister, Missouri.

Woneta Mae Tate, of Hollister, Missouri, went to her Heavenly home, surrounded by her loving family, on March 15, 2025, at the age of 91. She was born January 13, 1934, in Lawrence County, Missouri, the daughter of Walter and Viva Graham Pennington. From an early age, Woneta gave her heart to the Lord and served Him faithfully all these years. She married Spencer Tate on January 14, 1950, in Omaha, Arkansas. Together, they raised six children on a small farm, milking cows and gardening. Woneta worked for Taneycomo Ceramics in Hollister, before she and Spencer opened their own business, Nita’s Ceramics. She worked many long hours in that business, selling their handcrafted products across the Ozarks, until retiring after 26 years.  Woneta enjoyed puzzles, quilting, watching her hummingbirds, and was always ready for a few rounds of Rumikub. She was often singing, humming, or whistling a tune and served in the church choir for many years. She was faithful, kind, witty, and forgiving. Woneta was especially known for her stubborn streak, a trait passed down through the generations. Above all, she leaves behind a legacy of love, and devotion to her family, who will cherish her memory forever.

She is survived by her six children, Gary (Jessica) Tate of Hollister, MO, Linda (Jesse) Ellis of Hollister, MO, Mike Tate of Hollister, MO, Bobby (Vicki) Tate of Owensville, MO, Larry (Mary) Tate of Hollister, MO, and Debra (Lloyd) McCullough of Shell Knob, MO; brother, Robert Youngblood of Springfield, MO; 16 grandchildren, 39 great-grandchildren; 14 great great-grandchildren; a host of nieces and nephews; and her beloved dog, Sissy.

Woneta was preceded in death by her husband of 51 years; parents; stepfather, Clyde Youngblood; four sisters; one brother; three grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.

Visitation will be 5:00 pm until 7:00 pm, Thursday, March 20, 2025 at Snapp-Bearden Funeral Home & Crematory, Branson, Missouri. A Funeral Service for Woneta will be 10:00 am, Friday, March 21, 2025 at Snapp-Bearden Funeral Home & Crematory with Pastor William Durrant and Ken Tate officiating. Burial will be in Cedar Valley Cemetery, Hollister, MO, with Liz Kurlemeyer, Wade McCullough, Mason Strobeck, Dan Swenson, Andy Canote, and Dean Bartlett as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers are Spencer Tate, Marcia Swenson, Heather Ryerson, Michael S. Tate, Gregory Gilliland, Parker Strobeck, and Jon Cardinali.

In Woneta's memory, memorials are suggested to Gideons International, P. O. Box 1202, Branson, MO 65615 or St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.