OPELOUSAS ~ Funeral services will be held Saturday, November 15, 2025 at a 10:30 a.m. Mass of Christian Burial in St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church for Shirley Richard Tate, age 85, who passed away Wednesday, November 12, 2025 in Opelousas.

Interment will be in St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Cemetery. The Rev. Aaron Melancon, pastor of St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church, will officiate the services.

Born November 17, 1939, Shirley R. Tate was a native of Leonville and a resident of Opelousas. A devout Catholic, she was a faithful parishioner of Our Lady Queen of Angels Catholic Church and a lifetime member of the VFW Ladies Auxiliary. Shirley was known for her warm, friendly personality and her love for people. She enjoyed socializing and could often be found sharing laughter and good food with those she loved. Her greatest joy came from cooking for her family and friends and dancing to Cajun music with her husband. Above all, Shirley was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and great-great-grandmother whose love and kindness will be deeply missed by all who knew her.

Survivors include her sons, James Roger Tate (Rhonda), Rodney Joseph Tate (Melissa), and Ira Michael Tate, Jr., all of Opelousas; her daughters, Mary Gail Hebert of Judice, Glenda Tate Fontenot (Jody) of Ville Platte, and Cynthia Tate Pryor (Brett) of Lafayette; her sisters, Gertie Lagrange of Leonville, and Barbara Soileau (Paul) of New Iberia; seventeen grandchildren, Kevin Hebert (Amy), Denise Hebert, Ronald Hebert, Jeremy Hebert, Jordan Tate (Brandi), Christopher Tate (Lainey), Phillip Tate, Joel Tate, Elizabeth Fontenot, John Michael Fontenot (Courtney), Daniel Fontenot (Kari), Bradley Michael Tate (Shandale), Nicholas Adam Tate, James Allen Tate, Luke Pryor (Madison), Paul Pryor, and Sara Pryor; fourteen great grandchildren; and one great-great grandchild.

She was preceded in death by her husband of sixty-three years, Ira M. Tate Sr., her daughter, Iris Marie; one grandchild, Jacob Mitchell Tate; step grandchildren, Kaitlyn Bellow, Bailey Bellow, and Brooklyn Bellow; her parents, Odon and Gertie Richard; one sister, Rita Richard; one son-in-law, Ted Hebert; and one brother-in-law, Louis Lagrange.

A rosary will be prayed at 7:00 p.m. Friday in the funeral home.

The family requests that visiting hours be observed from 5:00 p.m. on Friday until 9:00 p.m. and will continue from 7:30 a.m. Saturday until service time on Saturday.

Pallbearers will be Jordan Tate, Christopher Tate, Bradley Michael Tate, Luke James Pryor, John Michael Fontenot, and Jeremy Hebert. The honorary pallbearers will be Paul Pryor, Nicholas Adam Tate, Ronald Hebert, Philip Tate, Joel Tate, and Daniel Fontenot.

Melancon Funeral Home of Opelousas, 4708 I-49 North Service Road, (337) 407-1907, is in charge of arrangements