Martha Frances "Fran" Pate

Martha Frances “Fran” Pate, 84, of Butler passed away Tuesday at Good Samaritan Hospice at Concordia.

She was born Dec. 23, 1930, in Duplin County, North Carolina, to the late James Tommie Teachey and Lydia (Harrell) Teachey.

Fran was a former member of Calvary United Presbyterian Church and Trinity Presbyterian Church.

She enjoyed square dancing and was a member of the Butler Two-Steppers. Fran was a country-western line dancing teacher at the Tanglewood Center well into her 80s, and she especially enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren.

Fran is survived by three sons, Ernest W. Pate Jr. and his wife, Betty, of Butler, Kenneth Pate and his wife, Cynthia, of Chicora and Ronald Pate and his fiancee, Heather Plyler, of Slippery Rock; six grandchildren, Jennifer L. Tuft and her husband, Chris, Heather Pate, Danielle Pate, Brittany Pate, Macie Pate and Braden Pate; and three great-grandchildren, Christian, Tyler and Haley.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Ernest W. Pate Sr., who she married Dec. 21, 1951, and who passed away Dec. 29, 1997, and also by two sisters.

PATE — Friends of Martha Frances “Fran” Pate, who died Tuesday, May 5, 2015, will be received from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. Friday at Thompson-Miller Funeral Home, 124 E. North St., Butler.Funeral services will be private. Private burial will take place in Butler County Memorial Park.In lieu of flowers, donations are suggested to a charity of the donor's choice.Online condolences can be given at www.thompson-miller.com.