Clara Maudell (Sandel) Drake

Clara Maudell (Sandel) Drake entered peacefully into eternal rest in the Lord on Friday, October 21 with her devoted family by her side. She was born August 4, 1915 in Palestine TX to R. J. (Joe) Brule' and Maude Morris. Her childhood and school years were spent in Navasota TX where her father was City Manager. The day after she graduated from High School she married James (Jimmy) Sandel. She and her new husband began married life in High Island TX where Jimmy was working for Stanolin Oil. This is where she developed a lifelong love of the beach and where she spent many happy hours fishing and crabbing. She shared this love with her children and loved to go camping at the beach or a lake with her family. Over the years Jimmy was transferred many times and always the devoted and loving wife and mother, she packed up their belongings and with children in tow, followed him to the next location without complaint. They settled in Corpus Christi TX for many years until another transfer took them to Houston in 1964.

Clara was an expert seamstress and tailor. Extremely talented, she made most of the clothing her family wore. As her grandchildren arrived she continued the practice and made many outfits for them, boys and girls both, each unique and tailored to fit their personalities. Clara designed and made exquisite wedding gowns for her daughter Lisa and her oldest granddaughter Stacey. Although she was not able to sew intricate details any longer due to arthritis, she cut the pattern for an elegant wedding gown for Kristi, her grandson Ken's bride. Clara was also a very accomplished expert in any form of needlework. She has left the family many beautiful works of stitchery. She taught knitting at Lichenstein's in Corpus Christi for many years to help pay college expenses for her children. Clara was also a master gardener. She won innumerable awards over the years in many garden shows and yard of the month contests. Even when she could no longer plant and care for a large yard display, Clara continued to nurture spectacular patio and house plants. Widowed at fifty-two years old, and with her children grown, she began a five year career as a housemother for Alpha Tau Omega fraternity at the University of Texas in Austin where she met her second husband, Glynn Drake. After Glynn's death, she returned to Corpus Christi to lovingly care for her aging parents. After her parents passed away, and ever having an itchy foot, she traveled widely making trips to Europe, Mexico, etc. At her daughter Lisa's urging, she sold her home in Corpus Christi and moved to Lakeway where she made so very many friends. She continued to travel into her nineties, driving by herself to visit family members across South and West Texas. She especially loved spending time with her only sister.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husbands Jimmy Sandel and Glynn Drake, sister Mary Ellen McEntire and only daughter Lisa Richter. She is survived by sons Michael and wife Elaine Sandel and Phillip and wife Shelley Sandel, son-in-law Charles Richter, grandsons Jim Sandel, Scott Sandel, Ken Sandel and wife Kristi and Eric Richter and wife Flora, granddaughters Stacey Sandel Haas and husband Joe and Rene' Richter Jasman and husband Jeff. She is also survived by ten great grandchildren, Joey and wife Brooke Haas, Phillip, Tom and Luke Haas, Autumn and Hannah Sandel, Riley and Logan Sandel, Amelia and Chloe Sandel and Ava and Brynn Jasman as well as three great great grandchildren Madison, Miles and Macie Haas.

The family extends their heartfelt appreciation to the entire staff at Brookdale Retirement Community who so lovingly cared for her in her final years and to her host of friends who continued to visit her throughout her final days.

A memorial service is scheduled at The Lakeway Church on Saturday, November 5 at 2:00PM. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations to be made in Clara's name to the seniors program Prime Timers Ministry, The Lakeway Church, 2203 Lakeway Blvd, Lakeway TX 78734 or to the Lake Travis Community Library, 1938 Lohmans Crossing, Austin TX 78734.

"I have competed well; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith."