Laura Catherine (Raffety) Tate age 86, passed away at 8:55 p.m., Friday March 24, 2017 in the Casey Health Care Center, Casey, IL.  She was a farm wife, mother, and treasurer of the Grandview Mutual Phone Co. Laura was a member of the Grandview Presbyterian Church and served as pianist and Sunday School Superintendent.  She was a member of the Paris Chapter #7 of the Order of the Eastern Star, where she was  Past Worthy Matron,  Eastern Star State Grand Organist in 1968, and Grand Representative.  A member of the Edgar County Farm Bureau and served as President of the Farm Bureau Women's Committee. She was PTA president of the Kansas Schools.  Laura was an accomplished seamstress and enjoyed making quilts.

Services are 10 a.m., Wednesday, March 29, 2017 in Stewart and Carroll Funeral Home. Visitation is from 4 to 7 p.m.,  Tuesday, March 28, 2017 at the funeral home.  Order of the Eastern Star Services are at 7 p.m. Tuesday.

Burial will be in Grandview Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to the Order of the Eastern Star.

She was born  August 22, 1930 in Paris the daughter of the late Henry Whorton and Lucy Margaret Brown Raffety.

Laura married Harold Smith Tate September 5, 1948 in the Vermilion Methodist Church and he passed away September 21, 1966.

She is survived by her children: Margaret Farnsworth of Nakuru, Kenya, Janie Martin of Paris, and Jim (Angela) Tate of Kansas; her grandchildren Julie Sherer of Newman, Scott Martin of Paris, Katie Farnsworth of Nairobi, Kenya, Nellie Farnsworth of Fishers, IN, Amanda Tate and Andrew Tate both of McGehee, AK, Jamie Tate and Jason Tate both of Kansas and Eric Tate of Paris; her great-grandchildren: Benjamin Sherer, Alyssa Martin, McKinzey Tate, Raelyn Tate, Henry Tate and Luke Roberts.

She was preceded in death by her son, Bob Tate, her infant brother at birth Robert, and her grandson Jeremy Tate.

For more information and online condolences please go to www.stewartandcarrollfuneralhome.com