Forrest Gale Tate, 90, passed away peacefully on Monday, Feb. 13, 2017, at his home in Chandler, surrounded by family and friends, ready to meet his Father in Heaven or as he would often say, “ready to go to the big car auction in the sky.” Memorial services will be held and his businesses closed in his honor at 11 a.m. on Monday, Feb. 20, at St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church, 901 W. Erie St. in Chandler. Immediately following there will be a luncheon to celebrate his life and share stories of this great man at the Chandler Center of Arts, 250 N. Arizona Ave. Forrest was born in Chandler Oct. 28, 1926, to Charles and Lesbia Tate, the youngest of five children, Bertha Vest, Lucille Carson, Edith Shepard and Lloyd Tate, all of whom predeceased him in death. Survivors include his wife of 39 years, Linda; sons Jim (Dana), Robert (Lois), Terry (Darla) and Charles; step-sons David Berry (Teresa) and Rick Berry (Amy); step-daughter Cindy Berry; 19 grand and 22 great-grandchildren. Forrest was a graduate of Chandler High School in 1944. His father was the Chandler Postmaster, which provided him the opportunity to work around the post office. He became determined to follow in his father’s footsteps and make the postal service a life career. Once graduated, Forrest enlisted in the Army Air Corps in January 1944 and served honorably. He returned to find there would be no position available so he turned to what became his life career–the car business. Kirby-Simmons Motor Company hired Forrest on the GI Bill as a parts department trainee. He would later work for Indian School Auto Sales, Madison Motors, became a partner in Holiday Chevrolet, Berge Ford and finally Earnhardt Ford, where he enjoyed a lifelong friendship with Tex Earnhardt. He left Earnhardt’s for the opportunity to own his own Ford dealership. Gene Hall of Hall Motors in Holbrook gave him that opportunity. In 1979, he and Linda purchased the dealership from Hall, and in 1987 he and his wife brought in the Chrysler franchises and it became Tate’s Auto Center. In recent years, they acquired dealerships in Show Low, Winslow and Gallup, N.M. Tate’s Auto Center was indeed a family business with most of his sons involved at different times over the years and his partner in business and life, Linda. Forrest served on numerous automotive boards, including Ford’s regional advertising and the Arizona Auto Dealer Association’s Board of Directors for 12 years starting in 1982, just to name a few. He enjoyed family and friends, and appreciated the loyalty of all with reference to his business and lifelong friendships. He was a friend and mentor to many, but most importantly the patriarch of his family. Bueler Mortuary of Chandler was in charge of the arrangements.
