GREAT BEND Helen J. Drake was born in Sterling on June 29, 1931. Her parents were Carl P. Handy and Daisy V. (Dixon) Handy. Helen married George F. Drake on Sept. 8, 1951 in Iola. To this union were born two children, Jeff Drake and Susan Drake Stout. George and Helen lived in Great Bend for over 54 years.
She was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Great Bend. A lifetime member of the Girl Scouts, Central Kansas Council of Girl Scouts President, was on the Girls Scout nominating committee, and Great Bend cookie chairman for a number of years. She was a Girl Scout leader on all levels, Brownie, Junior and Senior Scouts. Helen was a volunteer for Red Cross Blood Mobile, a long-time member of the Cemetery Board, a lifetime member of the Great Bend Zoological Society helping bring the tigers, lions and wolves, among other things to the zoo. Helen was an avid tennis player and was a long-time member of one of the local bridge clubs.
She enjoyed watching all of her grandchildren in their many activities. Watching her great grandchildren Sean and Joshua Urban and Drake Brewer wrestling, numerous baseball, basketball, and football games and track.
George and Helen traveled a lot during Georges tenure as mayor of Great Bend, including a trip to our sister city in Germany and trips to New York City. They went on many cruises, trips abroad and trips to the East Coast to see their son and family. She was such a large part of our family and will be missed tremendously.
Survivors include, Jeff and Kathleen Drake of Ringwood, N.J., Susan and Wayne Stout of Hoisington; grandchildren, Ian and Timothy Drake, Ringwood, N.J., Mandy and Shane Konzem of Salina, Kyle and Shani Stout of Hoisington, and Molly and Darin Brewer of Hoisington; great grandchildren, Sean Urban of Lawrence, Joshua Urban and Izaac Konzem of Salina, Ryker, Dahlia, and Osiris Stout of Hoisington, and Drake, Marly, Mya, Dashel and Miry Brewer of Hoisington. She was preceded in death by her husband, George F. Drake; her parents, and also a brother, Phillip Handy.
Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Thursday, at Bryant Funeral Home, with family receiving friends from 5 to 7 p.m. Funeral services will be at 10 a.m., Friday at Bryant Funeral Home, with Reverend Seong Lee presiding. Interment will be in the Great Bend Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to Great Bend Zoological Society or Golden Belt Community Foundation, in care of Bryant Funeral Home.
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