A gathering of family and friends to honor W.L. Pate Jr, former Beaumont City Council member and recent mayoral candidate, will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday at Broussard’s Mortuary, 2000 McFaddin St.
A funeral service with military honors is scheduled for 1 p.m. Friday at One City Church, 2350 Easter Freeway with Pastor Randy Feldschau presiding.
Feldschau also is a member of City Council and served at-large across from Pate during the past two years.
Pate, 72, died Sunday after a brief illness.
He first was elected to the council in 2007 and gave up his seat to run for mayor in the May municipal election. But he fell short of making the runoff, which was decided this past Saturday. Former Ward IV Council member Robin Mouton won the runoff election.
She also served alongside Pate.
Dan Wallach is a freelance writer.