Preston was passionate about many things in life. If you knew him, you knew how big of a Tennessee football fan he was. And he was passionate about his son's activities including his wrestling and drumming. Preston had played the saxophone and the drums in high school, and he had been employed as a warehouse manager with Simpson's Grocery before becoming disabled.
Although disabled for nearly 20 years, Preston was more active than most people. He was instrumental in starting Cub Scout Pack 132 in Euharlee and served as the Cub Master for four years. He volunteered at several scout camps and at Camp Sidney Dew. He was an active member of First Presbyterian Church of Cartersville where he served as a youth leader and was known by the children of the church as "Papa Tate." Preston had participated in church mission trips including one mission to Juarez, Mexico.
Survivors include his loving wife of 18 years, Lorrie Ray Tate; his son, Andrew Ryan Tate; his mother, Brenda Lee Tate of Madisonville, Tenn.; his mamaw and papaw, Orpha and Andrew Taylor of Madisonville, Tenn.; his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Danny and Sheila Ray of Cassville; his sister-in-law, Melissa Ray of Cassville; his wife's grandparents, Walter and Elma Cornwell of Cassville; three nephews; and several aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.
The family will receive friends from noon to 3 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 31, at Parnick Jennings Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 430 Cassville Road, Cartersville.
A celebration of Preston's life will be held at 4 p.m. Friday at First Presbyterian Church with Rev. Ted Smith officiating. Serving as pallbearers will be Jeff Nalli, Jeff Stiles, Tom Melton, Tom Nebergall, Brian Adams, Bryant Haney and Joe Carlsen.
The family will also receive friends from 4 to 7 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 2, at Biereley-Hale Funeral Home, 4650 Highway 411 Bypass, Madisonville, Tenn., followed by a memorial service at 7 p.m.
Graveside funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 3, in Rural Vale Cemetery in Tellico Plains, Tenn.
Please join in celebrating Preston's life by visiting www.jenningsfuneralhome.com to share memories or to sign the guest book.