Funeral services for John C. (Mert) Pate, age 77, of Wedowee will be held on Tuesday, December 23, 2014, at 2:00 PM from Woodland First Congregational Methodist Church with Rev. Donald Spradlin and Rev. David McPherson officiating. Burial will follow at Midway Methodist Cemetery with Benefield Funeral Home of Wedowee in charge of arrangements.

The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 5:00-9:00 PM on Monday, December 22, 2014. Mr. Pate will lie in state at the church for one hour prior to services beginning on Tuesday.

Mr. Pate passed away Sunday, December 21, 2014, at Wedowee Hospital.

Survivors include: four daughters, Martha Cook of Wedowee, Regina Autrey of Wedowee, Susan Garrett of Woodland, and Kathy Peek of Roanoke; 14 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; and three sisters, Eva Castelle of Phenix City, Ida Waters of Columbus, GA, and Myrtis Brockwell of Columbus, GA.

Pallbearers will be W.C. Pate, Chris Phillips, Keith Langley, Billy Junior Richardson, Ted Brown, Robert Garrett, Kenneth Langley, and Scott Craven.

A Wedowee native, Mr. Pate was born on February 12, 1937, the son of Wiley and Pearl Hull Pate. He was a member of Woodland First Congregational Methodist Church and was a self-employed truck driver. Mr. Pate was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Frances Geraldine Pate; grandson, Dusty B. Cook; son-in-law, Tim Cook; two sisters and four brothers.