Mark Anthony "Eightball" Tate, 45 of Rockford passed away January 3, 2013 of a sudden illness. Mark was born March 5, 1967 to Gay (Fletcher) Tate and Calvin Tate Sr. Survived by his mother, Gaye Tate and step-father J.C. Criss; sons, Mark Jr., Matthew, Mykel Tate; daughter, Kristel Tate; grandchildren, Kaesyn, Kaeya Tate, Kamaria, Kamya Carter, Kanari Curry, all of Madison, WI; sisters, Calvetta (Sidney) Pope, Lisa (Hank) Box-Tate, both of Rockford, brothers, Terry and Christopher Tate, both of Rockford and Calvin (Tina) Lee-Tate of Beloit, WI; and a host of Aunts, Uncles, Nieces, Nephews, Great-Nieces, Great-Nephews and Cousins. He leaves three special people, Kristen Taylor (kid's mother and Mark's first love), Mary Taylor and Eugene. Predeceased by father, Calvin Tate Sr., paternal and maternal grandparents. The family would like to that Crusader Clinic, The Carpenter's Place, the CCU Nurses at SwedishAmerican Hospital, Howard Johnson Hotel , Grace Funeral & Cremation Services and his friends for being so kind to him and helping him out. Homegoing will be at the Howard Johnson Convention Center, 3909 11th Street Rockford on Sat. Jan. 12, 2013 at 2:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Lisa or Gaye Tate, c/o the Howard Johnson Hotel, for a memorial to be determined at a later date. Grace Funeral & Cremation Services assisted the family, to share a memory of Mark or a condolence, please visit www.graceFH.com .