Nancy Pate, 86, was born on October 5, 1925 in Sedalia, MO and passed away Friday, February 10, 2012 in her home in Springfield, MO. Her family moved from Sedalia to St. Louis in 1939. She graduated from Roosevelt High School in St. Louis and from Washington University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts and a Bachelor of Science in Education degrees and a Master of Art degree from the University of Missouri. After graduating, she worked as an advertising illustrator and designer for several years followed by a career in teaching art, first in the classroom followed by working as Director of Art in the Ritenour School District in St. Louis County. While teaching Art Education at the University of Missouri St. Louis, she was able to concentrate more on studio work creating designs in metal and batik. She showed her work at Craft Alliance Gallery in St. Louis for many years. Nancy was preceded in death by her parents, Frank M. and Helen Duncan Lumpee; and by her husband, Harold Pate. Nancy and Harold moved to Springfield in 1982. Within the first month she offered to volunteer at the Springfield Art Museum and made the museum an important part of her life, serving on the board of the Friends of the Museum and on the Museum Board. For several years she worked on polishing the museum's silver collection. After some health problems, which required re-cooperative time, she acquired a dog which led her to the Springfield Dog Training club and another active happy life training her dogs and helping other people learn to train their dogs. Her dogs have been standard poodles and important companions. Harold and Nancy spent their travel time mostly in the western states rock collecting and enjoying the beautiful and dramatic geography and historic sites. Nancy loved her life, all the activities, and her family, friends and others who made it possible. Nancy is survived by her sister and brother-in-law, Ginny and Robert (Bud) Norton, Sr., and their five children and families: Cynthia Anderson and husband, Bruce, daughter, Tessa Jane, Robert Norton, Jr. and wife, Jill, their daughter, Bailey and son, Robert III, son, Frank Norton and wife Jewell, children, Kelly Ginney, and Frank Jr., daughter, Nancy Norton and her son, Biswas, daughter, Marianne Foster and children, Brianna and son, Austin. She is also survived by her second family, Harold's daughter, Penny and her children, Douglas, wife Susan and two daughters, and Bradford, wife, Candice and three sons. Nancy considered herself blessed with the love and support of all this family. Nancy's family for several generations were members of the Congregational Christian Church and she was a founding member of the Community Christian Church here in Springfield. Memorials may be made to the Community Christian Church, The Springfield, Art Museum, or the Southwest Missouri Humane Society. A memorial service will be held Monday, February 13, 2012 at 4:00 PM in Gorman-Scharpf Brentwood Chapel with Dr. Roger Ray officiating.