Olivia Tate Obituary

Olivia Braswell Tate

Born: December 21, 1946 | Died: April 6, 2025

Olivia Braswell Tate, of Avery Country, passed away peacefully on Sunday, April 6, 2025 at Deerfield Assisted Living in Boone, NC.

Daughter of the late J. Ray Braswell and Margaret S. Braswell, Olivia was born on December 21, 1946 in Chapel Hill, NC and grew up in Montezuma, NC. She often told stories of swimming, fishing, and ice skating on the pond in their front yard with her beloved brother, Edward Braswell. Other stories included riding horses and working at the Linville Grocery Store as a teenager.

Olivia, a woman of remarkable independence and strength, had a thirst for knowledge and an interest in serving others, which led her to a career in nursing. Being the career-driven woman that she was, she put herself through the MBA program at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, NC. As a single, working mother, this was quite an accomplishment! She ultimately found her calling at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Salisbury, NC as the Chief Nurse in Clinical Practice, Counseling, & Ancillary Medical Service until her retirement in 2009.

Olivia found joy in life's simple pleasures. She loved diving into a good novel while savoring a hot cup of tea, and the warmth of sunshine on the beach was something she eagerly anticipated every summer. Her love for a satisfying breakfast was evident, especially when it came to poached eggs on toast accompanied by crispy bacon. Her sweet tooth led her to a lifelong appreciation for dark chocolate, and she could often be found enthusiastically answering trivia on Jeopardy each evening. Whether engaging in a competitive game of Scrabble or Words with Friends, Olivia found solace in these small moments that balanced the demands of her professional life. But, above all else, she cherished her family the most.

Olivia leaves behind her most valued treasures, two daughters, Melissa Parker of Jacksonville, FL, Angela (Bill) Tuck of Banner Elk, NC and her four grandchildren: Madison Parker, Avery Parker, Campbell Tuck, and Alden Tuck. Her family, whom she loved most in the world, will cherish her memory forever!

Services for Olivia Tate will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 3, 2025 (Derby Day - If you know her love of horses, you'll understand why!) at Aaron Baptist Church in Montezuma with Reverend Brent Price officiating. The family will receive friends beginning at 12:30 p.m. at the church entrance. Interment will follow in the Montezuma Cemetery.

The family would like to extend their sincere thanks and appreciation to the nurses and staff of Amorem Hospice and Palliative Care, Deerfield Ridge Assisted Living, Life Care Center of Banner Elk, Cannon Memorial Hospital, Watauga Medical Center and her loving caregivers, Debbi Hagna and Barbara Shell.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to: Amorem Hospice 902 Kirkwood St NW Lenoir, NC 28645 or Aaron Baptist Church 280 Old NC 181 Montezuma, NC 28657.

Words of Comfort and Memories may be shared with the Tate family by visiting our website: www.rsfh.net.

The care of Olivia and her family has been entrusted to Reins-Sturdivant Funeral Home of Newland, (828) 733-2121.