Tom Bate

Thomas M. "Tom" Bate (3 August 1934 - 2 August 1989) was a son of Eva Cooke.

Early Life

Tom was a skilled musician (piano, organ) and a model train buff.

- Bill Currie, 2026

The Cooke family used to get together, often. There was music, singing, Uncle Ernie played the banjo really well, my Dad the violin, Aunt Eva, piano. She had a strong voice and sang in the church choir. (Anglican – Transcona) Her son Tom had a lovely boy soprano voice. He continued to sing, but had too much vibrato as an adult. :)

- Vivian Shannon [1]

Tom and his daughter were at Jack Currie and Lucy Currie's 50th anniversary in June 1989. Tom had divorced Diane some years before, was dying of brain cancer at that anniversary occasion, and died shortly afterwards.

Marriage and Family

He married Diane Mary Paulley (1940 - 2022). They had four children. They later divorced before his death.

• David Bate (married Sue)
  • Ryan Bate (married Kayla)
  • Jordan Bate
• Tim Bate (married Caroline)
  • Vanessa Bate (married Michael)
  • Mason Bate
• Jennifer Sykes (née Bate) (married Dean Sykes)
  • Jessica Sykes (married Malcolm) — son: Oliver
  • Bailey Sykes
  • Nicole Sykes (married Brett)
• Andrew Bate (married Kelly)
  • Kaden Bate (married Cleo)
  • Daniel Bate

Death

He died in 1989, just one day before his 55th birthday.

At the time of his death he was already divorced. After his death Diane remarried, to a mutual childhood friend known to all three of them, John Ross, and became stepmother to David Ross.

Sources

[1] Vivian Shannon email to Michael Currie, 2020

[2] https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/40607363/thomas_murrin-bate