Mary Eleanor Drake Passed Away, Mother to Sarah, Dorothy, David

Mary Eleanor Woods Drake, 90 of Lee’s Summit, Missouri formerly of Warrensburg passed away Saturday, January 21, 2012 at Wilshire at Lakewood Care Center in Lee’s Summit. 

Eleanor was born September 7, 1921 in Maude, Missouri daughter of George D. and Rose N. (Worley) Woods. She graduated Valedictorian of the Class of 1939 from Bowling Green High School in Bowling Green, Missouri. She attended Central Methodist College in Fayette, Missouri for two years, followed by another two years at the University of Missouri in Columbia, where she graduated with a Degree in Education in 1943. Eleanor was united in marriage to Charles Goodloe Drake on September 8, 1949 in St. Louis. Due to Charles’ teaching career, the couple moved numerous times throughout the years. They lived in Fulton, Missouri; Columbia, Missouri; Norman, Oklahoma; Fairfield, Iowa; Vandalia, Missouri; Decatur, Illinois and Edwardsville, Illinois. In 1968, they made Warrensburg their home. 
Eleanor was involved with campus activities and faculty wives at the numerous universities where her husband, Charles taught. She was an active member of First United Methodist Church in Warrensburg, where she was involved in Sunday school classes, women’s church circles and other various church activities. She belonged to couple’s bridge groups as well as women’s bridge groups. She was a member of Welcome Wagon; American Association of University Women; Daughters of the American Revolution; Son’s of the American Revolution Wives; Beta Sigma Phi; West Central Genealogy Society; and the Hospital Auxiliary. Eleanor was a dedicated officer, usually secretary or treasurer with many of the before mentioned organizations. She also loved genealogy research, having traveled with her husband all over the world, researching their family histories. 
Survivors include two daughters: Sarah Lesko and husband, Greg of Lee’s Summit, MO and Dorothy Sivils of Pleasant Hill, MO; a son, David Drake of Santa Cruz, CA; four grandchildren: Seth Lesko of Kansas City, MO; Cesily Lesko of Lee’s Summit, MO; Drake Sivils and Dawson Sivils, both of Pleasant Hill, MO. She was preceded in death by her husband, Charles following 50 years of marriage, and a brother, Turner Woods. 
Funeral Services will be 2:00 p.m. Saturday, January 28, 2012 at Williams Funeral Chapel in Warrensburg with Rev. Louie Lowe of First United Methodist Church officiating. Interment will follow in Sunset Hill Cemetery in Warrensburg. Pallbearers will be David Drake, Greg Lesko, Seth Lesko, Dick Luehrman, Baird Brock, and A. J. Heck. 
The family will receive friends from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home. 
Memorial contributions are suggested to Alzheimer’s Association or First United Methodist Church, in care of the funeral home. 
Online condolences may be left at www.williamsfuneralchapel.net 
Our sympathy and condolences go out to Sarah, Dorothy, David and other family from the Classes of 73, Warrensburg.