the incomparable Missy Tate

Vida Lea Tate

Vida Lea "Missy" Tate, an entrepreneur, educator and former Christian recording artist, died Dec. 18 at Anne Arundel Medical Center after a long illness. A resident of Annapolis for 51 years, she was 62.

Mrs. Tate was born March 28, 1948, in Philadelphia, Pa., the daughter of the late Navy Rear Adm. William P. Stephens and Hilda Ozell Spears Stephens. Adm. Stephens was a physician who later had a private practice in Annapolis on Cornhill Street. She graduated in 1961 from Annapolis High School and attended Peabody Conservatory in Baltimore until 1963.

In 1972, she founded and operated the Weems Creek Nursery School and Kindergarten. She also founded and was the owner of Arundel Super Skate on Route 50 from 1979 to 1988.

In 1982, she founded and continued to operate Missy Tate Ministries. She was a Christian Gospel recording artist on Star Song Records in Nashville, Tenn., from 1982 to 1995, and was involved in senior citizen outreach nationwide. Weekly she sang hymns for and with senior citizens in local nursing homes, and she appeared on "Focus on the Family" as a guest.

Mrs. Tate was a member of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Annapolis. She enjoyed composing Christian music, singing, travel, cooking and spending time with family.

Surviving are her husband, retired Air Force Brig. Gen. Vernon R. "Rod" Tate, whom she married March 17, 1962; two sons, Vernon R. Tate Jr. and William P. Tate of Annapolis; two daughters, Elizabeth D. Jowett of Yorktown, Va., and Hilda M. Tate Riith of Annapolis; one brother, John D. Stephens of Annapolis; one sister, Sarah E. Main of Davidsonville; and eight grandchildren.