Lorena I. Pate was born October 14, 1923 in a farmhouse in Jewell County, Kansas to Sarah (Gilbert) and George Walker. She departed this life on Friday, February 21, 2020 at the SunPorch of Smith Center in Smith Center, Kansas at the age of 96 years, 3 months and 7 days.
Lorena received her formal education and graduated from the Mankato High School in 1941. She was united in marriage with Neil Pate on April 1, 1950. They made their home on the farm south of Esbon. This union was blessed with five children, Eldon, Terry, Michael, Greg and Nancy. Lorena lost Neil in 1962, due to an accident on the farm. She continued to live on the farm another five years and then moved into Esbon. She worked several years at the café, she was a cook at the school in Esbon and purchased the café and operated it for several years. Lorena sold the café in 1998, and in 1999, moved to Hays where she worked for First Call for Help and the Sternberg Museum.
As her health began to fail, she moved to SunPorch in Smith Center in 2018.
Lorena was a hard worker and a great cook. She had many roadblocks in her life but her family was the highlight of her life.
Preceding her in death were her parents; four brothers; her husband, Neil, and a grandson, Neil Russell Pate.
She will be greatly missed by her children, Eldon (Delilah); Terry (Joan); Michael of Esbon, Kansas; Greg (Michaela, Lucas; Nancy (friend Curt) of Hays, Kansas. Her grandchildren, Jennifer (Kyle) Clark, Ryan Pate (Kendra, Kristi (Bryce) Haverkamp, Elisha (Jim) Bolte, Ericia (Emerson) Prothro, Kasha (Josh) Alcorn, Justin Pate, Nicole Brown, Stehanie Pate, Sarah (Ryan) Brown, Patrick (Ashley) Bergman, Rachel (Albert) Kraus, along with 23 great grandkids, nieces, nephews and friends.
The Mass of Christian Burial was Monday, 2:00 pm, February 24, 2020 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Esbon, Kansas with Fr. David Michael officiating. Interment was at the Esbon Cemetery.