Sadly, I just learned that Kevin Pate recently passed.

Kevin had been on OKCTalk for years and was one of the really good guys... Always polite and respectful while at the same time being a great advocate for all things related to Oklahoma City.

In addition to this tremendous loss, his family is struggling financially and has set up a Go Fund Me account to help defray some of the medical costs.

Please consider helping them out.

Kevin will be greatly missed here on OKCTalk.

https://www.gofundme.com/kevin-pate-medical-fund

Very, very sad news. He was one of my favorite posters.

Sadly, I just learned that Kevin Pate recently passed.

Kevin had been on OKCTalk for years and was one of the really good guys... Always polite and respectful while at the same time being a great advocate for all things related to Oklahoma City.

In addition to this tremendous loss, his family is struggling financially and has set up a Go Fund Me account to help defray some of the medical costs.

Please consider helping them out.

Kevin will be greatly missed here on OKCTalk.

https://www.gofundme.com/kevin-pate-medical-fund

I will miss kevin as I always enjoyed his wit, wisdom, and insights

Oh my goodness! Although I never met Kevin in person, it seems as though I knew him. He was always a kind, fair and pleasant poster here. Presumably that would translate into how he dealt with others in real life as well. Thoughts and prayers to his loved ones.

Truly saddened by this. I'm sort of at a loss of words, but like others have said he was one of the good ones on here, always positive and had a sense of humor.

Very sobering as life can change in an instant.

Kevin was only 56.

Very sad to hear this. He was one of the very good ones on here.

Respect to Kevin. Much thanks for his past contributions, he will indeed be missed. We are the poorer for the loss. My condolences to his loved ones.

I was so stunned to see the notice. Very sad; Kevin was one of the truly class acts here on OKCTalk. Prayers to his family.

Sad to hear this... Kevin was one of a handful of people that post here that I would always click on a thread just to see what he had to say even if it wasn't a thread I was interested in.

Very sad to hear this news.


Sad to hear this... Kevin was one of a handful of people that post here that I would always click on a thread just to see what he had to say even if it wasn't a thread I was interested in.

Likewise.

As many have said, this is very sad news. I enjoyed Kevin's posts and perspective on things and will miss him being a part of our community.

He was one of my favorites, always referred to his wife as the 'Lovely'. I have a lot of respect for him as such a family man. RIP Kevin

Wow I haven't been here long but have seen Kevin around here for the whole time. Rest in peace Kevin and my family is praying for yours.

man, that's sad... never met him in person but he always seemed like a real stand-up guy.

I concur with what everyone else has said. I just read through a bunch of his old posts, and he seemed to be a thoughtful, open-minded, and kind poster. If you come across that way on an online forum then you were probably a pretty good person. Rest in peace.

Wow! I just read this and am very saddend. Kevin aleays came across a a great guy on this forum and I am glad to be one of the "folk" that was part of some of his discussions.

Sad to hear this... Kevin was one of a handful of people that post here that I would always click on a thread just to see what he had to say even if it wasn't a thread I was interested in.

Yep.

The internet doesn't need less people like Kevin Pate, it needs more people like him. Lots and lots more.

Given that the internet brings out the worst in us, and here was KP at his worst, I can't imagine he was anything less than a stellar human being in his day to day life.

This is very sad.

:( :( :(

Damnit. The best thing I can say about Kevin is I wish people would feel the same about me when i'm gone. He was always so classy and always had a word of wisdom.

Very sad indeed. All my best to his friends and family. As everyone else has said he was always so positive and classy and a real asset and breath of fresh air.

Kevin didn't waste words. He would give you a straight answer from a legal standpoint. We're going to miss his expertise on the OKCTalk Forum.

Comfort to his family:


“You will lose someone you can’t live without, and your heart will be badly broken, and the bad news is that you never completely get over the loss of your beloved. But this is also the good news. They live forever in your broken heart that doesn’t seal back up. And you come through. It’s like having a broken leg that never heals perfectly—that still hurts when the weather gets cold, but you learn to dance with the limp.”
– Anne Lamott


http://www.wishafriend.com/sympathy/uploads/13256-sympathy-messages-for-loss-of-father.jpg

Rest in Peace Kevin, you were the greatest!

Kevin’s wife, Cindy, writes: “Our family would like to invite our family, friends, and anyone who ever knew my husband or felt his influence to his memorial service Sunday evening, 6:00 at Truth Church, 1201 W. Boyd, 73069”

Has Pete or anyone else shared this thread with his family? They might like to see so many posters had kind things to say about him.

Very sorry to hear this. Kevin would often send me private messages and emails regarding various matters. Always liked his sense of humor and character. He will be missed.

I just made a small donation - i'd like to challenge other posters who knew Kevin on this board to do the same. Kevin was the first person that I remember to use his real name as a poster.

I just made a small donation - i'd like to challenge other posters who knew Kevin on this board to do the same. Kevin was the first person that I remember to use his real name as a poster.

Done. Hope others from the OKCTalk community will help as well.

So very sorry to read in The Oklahoman of Kevin's passing. Although I haven't been on this site since moving out of the area, I wanted to come in to leave my condolences to Kevin's family and friends. Kevin was always very nice to me and his posts were largely positive and informative.

Best to all from Poteau, OK!

Kevin's obituary from the Norman Transcript:


Kevin Hunter Pate, 56, of Norman, passed away Wednesday, April 5, 2017.

He was born July 17, 1960, in Fayetteville, Arkansas, to W.E. "Pat" Pate and Frances Jannet "Jan" (Hunter) Pate. He married the love of his life, Cynthia "Cindy" Dian (Knight) Pate, January 8, 1982, in Poteau. They were married for 35 years.

Kevin earned a Bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice from Northeastern State University in 1986 and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Oklahoma School of Law in 1989, being admitted to the Oklahoma State Bar in the same year. A man dedicated to helping others, Kevin worked as an attorney for the Oklahoma Indigent Defense System for 19 years prior to entering private practice, where he continued helping clients even from his hospital bed. Kevin was actively involved in Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts for many years. He greatly enjoyed being there for his children through Scouting.

He is survived by his wife of 35 years, Cindy (Knight) Pate, of the home in Norman; three children, daughter, Amy Burum and husband, Josh, of Norman; son, Aaron Pate and wife Jessika, of Mobile, Alabama; and son, Alan Pate, of Norman; five grandchildren, Emery, Trent, Tripp, Oliver and Peter; two brothers, Tom Pate and wife Joleta, of Houston, Texas, and Pat Pate, Jr., of Poteau; father-in-law Vernard Knight, of Poteau; sister-in-law, Donna (Knight) Forrest and husband, Clyde Forrest; along with many nieces, nephews, other loving members of the family, and friends.

Kevin was preceded in death by his parents, Pat and Jan Pate; brother, Dave Pate; and mother-in-law, Alice Knight.

Kevin's family will host memorial services for him at 6:00 PM Sunday, April 9, 2017, at Truth Church at 1201 W. Boyd St., on the corner of Boyd Street and Berry Road in Norman.

Although I don't participate in this forum nearly as much as i used to, I still check in at least a couple of times a week to see what's new on the local scene. To say that I was stunned and saddened by the news of the passing of Kevin Pate would be an understatement.

As others have noted, Kevin--without exception--seemed to be a wise, kind, and gentle person who also possessed a great sense of humor and a clear cut sense of right and wrong. More than once I thought to myself that if I ever needed an attorney, I would want that attorney to be Kevin Pate. I am sure that he was a blessing to everyone who had the opportunity to actually encounter him in real life.

A definition of success that occurred to me a couple of decades ago is this: You are a success if the world is a better place for you having been in it than if you had never been born. By that definition, Kevin Pate was certainly a success. His wit and wisdom will be sorely missed and he will not soon be forgotten.

Kevin's wife Cindy dropped me a note to thank everyone at OKCTalk for the kind words and donations.

Wow - very sad! I never established a personal connection with him but remember his witty posts. He will definitely be missed!

Very sad to hear this. Kevin was one of the posters that I always read what he wrote. He was usually the voice of reason with a humorous twist. He will be missed.

Just now hearing this news. Very sad. I never met Kevin but it was clear he was a real gentlemen and very sharp with a wry wit. He was by far one of my favorite voices on this board. I had wondered why he wasn't posting as much as he used to.

just now hearing the news... so very sad. i feel like i have lost a friend. I never met him, but he and i went back and forth on here often, as we often did not agree but always had respect for the others opinion. He truly was a stand up guy... he will be greatly missed.