Ms. Zera Denson, age 100, passed away December 20, 2024. She was born March 6, 1924 in Pensacola, Florida to Angus Edward (Ed) and Malzie Ella Ward Pate.

Zera was a member of the Bruce Methodist Church where she was the church pianist and Adult Sunday School Teacher for many years. She was a Life Member of the National Education Association and The Florida State University Alumni Association. She was an elected council member of the Florida Tribe of Eastern Creek Indians in 1978 and has served continually since that time. The name of the Creek Indian Organization was officially changed to Muscogee Nation of Florida and its office and museum are located in the old Bruce School building on 278 Church Road, where Zera attended school in grades one through ten. She was a volunteer at the Council House and Thrift Store and served as Treasurer of the Tribe for many years.

Zera was a retired school teacher and Guidance Counselor. She began her teaching career at the Bruce School in 1944 after graduating from Walton High School in 1942. The teachers had gone to fight World War, II. Zera taught school and attended Summer School at Florida State University, which was then named Florida State College for Women. She earned a Bachelor's Degree in education and a Masters Degree in Guidance and School Psychology. She taught Elementary School at Bruce and Freeport for twenty-three years and was a Guidance Counselor at Niceville High School from 1968 until her retirement in 1992, a total of forty-seven years in education.  Zera was proud to tell her principal at Niceville High School that she was a Creek Indian.

Zera played the piano for many years for "church singing" and weddings and funerals for her family and friends. Her piano playing was enjoyed by many and will be greatly missed. She was a firm believer in God and the work of the church. She loved her fellow man and believed in prayer.

She was preceded in death by her parents, brother, Edward Eugene Pate, sisters, Emily Elaine and Carly Robert Daniel, Pansy Tremaine and Carl E. Bjorklund, brother-in-law, Haskell Eugene (H.E.)
Starns, sister Noami Starr.

She is survived by her daughter, Naomi Ann and husband Charles W Tucker, two brothers, Modesto Bayne (Dex) Pate and wife Margie, Kenna Zane Pate and wife Carol, grandchildren, Christopher A DeBeaux and wife Kristina, Alisha Ann Tucker, Erin Padilla and husband Greg and children, Arabella and Caiden, Ali and David Bailey and children, Killian and Temperance and a host of nieces and nephews and cousins.

A time of visitation will be held from 1:30-2:00 PM, Sunday, January 5, 2025 at Muscogee Nation of Florida Traditional Center; 278 Church Road, Bruce, Florida 32455.

Funeral Service will be held at 2:00 PM, Sunday, January 5, 2025 at Muskogee Nation of Florida Traditional Center.

Flowers are accepted or donations may be made to Muscogee Nation of Florida Traditional Center; 278 Church Road, Bruce, Florida 32455.

Burial will follow in Dead River Cemetery, with Tribal Ceremonial Rites by Muscogee Nation of Florida.