Troyce M. Johnston Pate

March 20, 2020

Graveside services for Troyce M. Johnston Pate, 92, of Rusk, will be 2 p.m., Monday, March 23, 2020, at Oakland Cemetery, Oakland, Texas with Bro. Jack White officiating.

On Thursday, March 19, 2020, the Lord Jesus opened his arms and lifted Troyce up to heaven.

Troyce was born to the late George Johnston and Susie Yarbrough Johnston on Aug. 5, 1927, in Rusk, Cherokee County, Texas. She grew up in Dialville, but resided in Rusk all her adult life.

She was a devoted wife, mother, and friend to many. She loved to can pickles and fig preserves. She was a born-again believer, dedicated to serving her Savior and Lord. She was a member of Memorial Missionary Baptist Church in Rusk. Troyce loved her church family dearly. She retired from Rusk State Hospital after many years of service.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her loving husband, William Louie Pate; two sisters, Ollie and Ruth Johnston; one brother, Auzie Johnston; and one grandson, Shane Pate.

Troyce is survived by her son, Keith Pate of Rusk; two grandchildren, Samantha Pate of Rusk and Nicholas Pate of Colorado; three great-grandchildren, Mattisyn Gonzales, Melissa and Matthew Kyle of Rusk; one nephew, Lynn Johnston of Dallas; cousins, Glynda Dungan of Corpus Christi, Scott Sappington of Colleyville, Bina Lloyd, Sue Watson, J.G. Halbert and Sherry Coates, all of Rusk; and also her dear friends, Linda and Lloyd Hudson and Judy Philyaw.

Honorary pallbearers will be Lynn Johnston, Scott Sappington, Lloyd Hudson, and Sherwood Smith.

We would like to thank her nurse for her devoted and regular care, Krystal Roberts.

She will be missed by many.