Lois May Drake, 90, of Stuart, Iowa passed away peacefully on September 9, 2014 at the Stuart Community Care Center. A celebration of life service will be held at 2:00 P.M. Sunday, September 28, 2014 at the Stuart-Mt. Vernon United Methodist Church in Stuart. Refreshments/fellowship will follow the services at the church. A private family burial will be held in the Jefferson Center Cemetery in Rural Adair County. Memorial contributions may be made in Lois’s honor to the Alzheimer’s Association and/or American Cancer Society and/or the St. Jude’s Hospice and may be sent in care of Johnson Family Funeral Home, PO Box 246, Stuart, Iowa 50250. Online condolences may be left at www.johnsonfamilyfuneralhome.com.
Lois was born September 6, 1924 in Sioux City, Iowa to Michael Horatio and Ella Van Putten White. She was raised in Sioux City and graduated from Central High School. Shortly after, Lois enrolled in Morningside College where she graduated with honors. She moved to Des Moines with her dear friend and future sister-in-law, Mary Margaret (Maggie) Weatherby, and worked at Younkers then Meredith Publishing Company. While living in Des Moines she met Leonard Leroy Drake and they were united in marriage on March 16, 1947. Most of their married life was spent on a dairy farm south of Menlo where they raised seven children. Lois was very active in the Jefferson Center United Methodist Church serving as the church’s Lay Leader, Sunday school teacher and many other positions. She continued to attend services there as long as she was able to drive. Later she transferred her membership to the Stuart-Mt. Vernon United Methodist Church. Lois was also a member of the Needle Craft Club, UMW, study club, and book club, served on the Election Board and the board of the West Central Valley Mental Health Association, and volunteered at the Stuart Community Care Center for several years. Other enjoyments included playing cards, doing puzzles, reading, playing golf, traveling and spending time with her family and friends.
Lois was a kind and loving mother, grandmother, person. She delighted in spending time with family and was very proud of all her descendants. Her grandchildren have wonderful memories of spending time on the farm, enjoying her delicious meals and desserts, especially the animal shaped pancakes she could whip up at a moment’s notice.
Retirement years were spent wintering in Apache Junction, Arizona where she and Leonard could be found playing golf or cards and eating at the Legion Club with “the Iowa Bunch”. At that time they spent summers at their home in Stuart.
Lois was preceded in death by her parents, Michael White and Ella Van Putten, her step-mother Veryl Haines, her beloved husband, Leonard Drake, son-in-law, Thomas Strathman, two brothers-in-law, Lawrence Drake and Glenn Drake and one sister-in-law, Marilyn Drake.
Lois leaves behind to cherish her memory, her children, Michael Leonard (Kathleen) Drake of Omaha, Nebraska, Nancy Ellen (Jay) Wood, of Bennet, Nebraska, Ruth Marie Strathman (Paul Fredrick) of Park Rapids, Minnesota, Elizabeth Ann (Daniel) Cook of Stuart, Iowa, Marshall Warren (Connie) Drake of Stuart, Iowa, Richard Dale (Vicki) Drake of Indianola, Iowa and William Dean (Audrey) Drake of Windsor, Colorado; sister, Ellen Jean White of Anchorage, Alaska; three brothers-in-law, Garry (Jane) Drake of Dexter, Iowa, David (Kathy) Drake of Creswell, Oregon and Wesley (Nona) Drake of Rexford, Idaho; sister-in-law, Mary Margaret (Maggie) Drake of Story City, Iowa; 20 grandchildren; 30 great-grandchildren; 2 great-great grandsons and a host of nieces, nephews and friends all of whom will miss her greatly. (Arrangements: Johnson Family Funeral Home – Stuart Chapel).
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28
Sep
219 NW 2nd Street
Stuart, IA 50250
A time of fellowship will follow the service at the church.
Rural Adair County, IA
Johnson Family Funeral Home & Cremation Services
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