MIDDLETOWN - Mary Anne Tate of Middletown, formerly of Lewes, and Denton, Md., died peacefully at her home surrounded by her loving family. She was 73. Born in Caroline County, Md., Mrs. Tate was the daughter of Anna Hignutt and the late Harry Hignutt of Denton. She attended Caroline High School in Denton. Her husband, Sterling Tate, died March 31, 2001. In the 1970's, she was actively involved in the Caroline Bicentennial Celebrations as the event secretary. Her primary occupations involved sales. She co-owned and helped manage sales for Adams' Appliances Center on Market Street in Denton. She sold cars for many years beginning with All Star Chevrolet in Denton. She was a past member of the Denton Homemaker's Club, the AMES United Methodist Church in Hobbs, and the Choptank River Yacht Club in Denton. Some of her favorite memories were of her volunteer hours as a Denton Little League Mother, and Denton Elementary Homeroom Mother. When she married Sterling Tate, she became a member of the Railroad Club of Rehoboth Beach. She was involved with the Lewes, DE American Legion Post 17 where she donated many crocheted items such as blankets for veterans and scarves and hats for children as Secret Santa Gifts. Mary Anne had an out-going personality that had a way of bringing people together. Her sense of humor continued to entertain, even into her final weeks. The hospice staff looked forward to their visits! In addition to her mother, Mary Anne is survived by four children from her previous marriage, Mary Kay Blazejak and her husband Mark of Middletown, Cheryl Reamer and her husband Howard "Tiny" of Middletown, Patricia L. Pleasanton and her friend Paul Deibel of Marydel; and her son, Wade Adams and his wife Kari of Denton; 11 grandchildren, Nathan Blazejak and his wife Summer, Lesley Signorello and her husband Matt, Tim Blazejak, Chris Coulby, Candice Coulby, Tommy Reamer, Erin Pleasanton, Colin Adams, Justin Adams, Hunter Adams, and Carter Adams; five great-grandchildren, Mark and Morganne, Drew and Kate, and Gwendolyn. She is also survived by her friend, and father of her children, Paul Adams and his wife Beverly; her sister, Dolly Henry and her husband Marshall of Denton; and her brother, Jesse Hignutt of Jennings, Fla. A memorial service will be 3 p.m., Saturday, May 21, at the Moore Funeral Home, P.A., 12 S. Second Street in Denton. Friends may visit with the family one hour prior to the service. There will be a celebration of her life immediately following at another location. Memorial interment will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Heartland Hospice Services (The Oxford Building, 256 Chapman Road, Suite 102, Newark, DE 10702) would be greatly appreciated. For online condolences, please go to moorefuneralhomepa.com.