Robert Pate

Robert Arthur Pate, 76, of Young Ward, Utah, was born in Mesa, Arizona on January 31, 1949 to Alma Jacob Pate and Helen Rose Cluff Pate. He died on May 24, 2025 at Logan Regional Hospital surrounded by his family. His death was caused by an ascending aortic dissection.

Robert is the third child and first son of nine children. His brother, Johnny (Jack), is 13 months younger than Robert. They were sometimes mistaken for twins, brown-haired Robert and blonde Johnny.

His father purchased and cleared a one-mile-square “section” of desert near Florence, Arizona and planted it in cotton. Robert grew up in the desert, capturing scorpions in mason jars, among other adventures. He picked a lot of cotton as a child starting at age 7, which may explain why he became an engineer.

The family moved many times, back and forth from Arizona to Utah, to Canada, etc. for Alma’s schooling and other economic ventures.

During high school, Robert, his brother Johnny, his father, various cousins, and others stacked hay for big ranches in Wyoming and Montana, using hay machines that his father built. Part of the money Robert earned would eventually pay for his first child.

He served a mission in the Bogota Colombia Mission; speaking Spanish and gaining a love of the Spanish language and culture.

He returned home from his mission in 1970, just in time to help his family move to a one hundred acre farm in Young Ward, Cache Valley, Utah.

Robert graduated from Utah State University in Mechanical Engineering. He was Valedictorian of the College of Engineering, Class of 1973. Then he earned a Master’s Degree and a PhD in Mechanical Engineering from Utah State.

He married Elaine Morrill on July 15, 1971. They are the parents of eight children: Robert Nathan (Jennifer), Barry Joseph (Jill), Warren Morrill (Jackie). Gina Marie Brin (Robert), Monica DeHek, Sydney Dawn Munsters (Dave), Russell Kent Pate, and Anthon Jacob Pate. They are grandparents of 34 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

After finishing at Utah State University, Robert took his family to Idaho Falls/Shelley, Idaho; Pittsfield, Massachusetts; and then after twenty years, back to Cache Valley.

Robert loved children and always wanted a little buddy or two or three along with him. When his children were young, he took them everywhere he possibly could (and sometimes where he probably shouldn’t).

He was an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. He had many callings and was dependable and faithful. He was a wonderful Home Teacher/Minister. He considered his charges friends, rather than obligations. Sister Mary DiNicola of Pittsfield, Massachusetts did not like men in general, but she loved Robert, her faithful Home Teacher and friend.

Robert loved deciphering Book of Mormon geography. He made several trips to Guatemala/Central America to do research and wrote three books pertaining to the subject.

Horses were another lifelong passion. Trail rides with his friends and family were surely like heaven. After Robert’s passing, there is only one of the “Geriatric Cowboys” left. Or possibly two, if you count Brad Tolman, who is a member, but not geriatric!

Robert was preceded in death by his parents and six of his siblings, (Rose Ann, Donna, Maran, Alan, Raymond, and Jeanne). He used to tell his children, “I had been to the funerals of four of my siblings before I graduated from high school.” The lesson being that they needed to appreciate their brothers and sisters. He is survived by his sister, Alice Nelson and his brother, Alma John (Jack) Pate. He is also survived by his wife Elaine, their children, and grandchildren.

The funeral will be held on Saturday, May 31, 2025 at 12:00pm at the College/Young Ward Building in College Ward. There will be a viewing prior from 10:00-11:30 am. There will also be a viewing the night before on Friday, May 30, 2025 from 6:00pm-8:00pm at Allen Mortuary of North Logan 420 East 1800 North.

Memories and condolences may be shared and expressed at www.allenmortuaries.com.