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Harold William Tate

Harold William Tate was born Feb. 23, 1927, in Seattle, Wash., to William and May (Graf) Tate. Harold passed away on Sept. 26, 2018, at 91 years old, in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, peacefully at Hospice of North Idaho from Alzheimer’s complications.

Harold grew up among his family in Seattle. The extended Tate family owned and operated a bread baking company. Harold’s father maintained and repaired the delivery fleet in addition to delivering the bread so that the students of the Seattle School District had lunch. This service was especially important, as this was the Depression Era and many students would have gone hungry. His mother kept the books and it is from her that Harold inherited his love of accounting.

Dad spoke of running out the back door, across the lawn and into the bakery. He spoke happily of working with his aunts and uncles and playing with his cousins. Harold spoke of hungry and homeless coming to his backdoor to perform chores in exchange for food from his mother’s kitchen. One such person was an artist who painted a portrait of Harold’s mother, May Tate. This portrait hangs in the private residence at Elk Point.

Harold loved sports. He especially loved street hockey and was often in trouble for ripping up his pants. One year he broke his left arm. It was years later that he explained he broke his left arm and learned to write with his right hand. Dad followed college football, especially his alma mater, the University of Washington. While he watched professional football, he preferred to follow the Pacific Northwest athletes, rather than just one team.

Harold spent summers in Coeur d’Alene with his Graf relatives up on Potlatch Hill. Harold and his brother, Ralph, were apparently “little devils” and were often in trouble. Dad’s claim to fame is when he dropped the family cat down the two-seater outhouse. Later on, both boys assisted with maintaining the property, digging wells and building pump house and reservoirs on the hill. Some are still in use today. It is with great family pride that the Graf house and homestead is approximately 100 years old and the Ralph Tate family line continues to reside there.

Harold learned to play the piano as a child. He played up until one month before his passing. Alzheimer’s tried to steal his mind, but it was never able to take away his ability to play upbeat, beautiful piano. Harold provided after-lunch concerts for his friends at Pacifica Courtyard in the last two years of his life.

Harold graduated from the University of Washington with a business degree focused in accounting. He was drafted into the Army during the Korean War where he served as an auditor and remained based in Seattle. During his time in the Army he passed the CPA exam. After the Army, Dad joined a firm in Redmond, Wash., and eventually opened Issaquah’s first CPA office in 1964. Harold was a trusted and beloved advisor to his clients.

Civic service was an important part of Harold’s life. For years he was a devoted Kiwanis member, serving as president of the Kiwanis Club of Issaquah for three terms. Harold sat on many boards and made a run for Issaquah School District Board. Later in life, Harold joined the Elks.

Harold is preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Ralph; son, Art; former spouses, Carol Tate and Maxine Tate; niece, Carol Ingle; and grandniece, Toni Ingle. He is survived by his son, David Tate and his children, Amye (Carl) McConnell, David J. (Sharon) Tate and Seth Tate of Portland, Ore.; his daughter, Virginia Tate and her children, Jeff (Bre) Petroskie, Matt (Hannah) Petroskie and Steve (Stacie) Petroskie of Coeur d’Alene; along with six great-grandchildren and with twin grandsons due this December. Grandsons David, Jeff, Matt and Steve are Eagle Scouts and David served three tours in the Middle East with the U.S. Army.

The family asks that remembrances be made to the Alzheimer’s Foundation or to your local Kiwanis Club.

Harold’s memorial is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 17, 2018, at Elk Point. The Estate at Elk Point is a family owned and operated business on the property homesteaded in 1911 and passed down through the family to Harold’s daughter, Ginny Tate and managed by her son, Jeff Petroskie. Elk Point is located at 4176 E. Potlatch Hill Road, Coeur d’Alene, Idaho.