Ruie Mae Drake

Born in 1926 in Magoffin County, Kentucky, to Earl Thomas Whitt and Emma Adams Whitt, Ruie Edith Mae Whitt was a miracle from the beginning weighing only two pounds at birth. Ruie often told the story of how her mother would pin her to a pillow so she wouldn’t be lost in the bed, and how she was “worth a bucket of frozen fish,” as that was how her father paid for her delivery.

Ruie’s father, Earl, passed away when she was just ten years old. Her mother, Emma, unable to support two daughters and five sons on her own during the Great Depression, made the difficult decision to place the children in an orphanage, where she lived for the next six years. Ruie remained there with four of her siblings until she was able to leave at the age of sixteen.

Ruie met and married her first husband, Woody Wells, and together they had one son, Woody Paul Wells. After her marriage to Woody ended, Ruie met the love of her life in Portsmouth Ohio, who would soon become her second husband, Carl W. Drake.

Not ready to settle down, Ruie and Carl began growing their family while living in multiple states: Billy Faye born in West Virginia; Carlos in Ohio; and Carla in New Mexico. Merely weeks after giving birth to their fourth child, they traveled to Florida and settled in Bradenton, where they welcomed their final child, Carlette.

Ruie spent the next thirty-five years raising a family and working in the hospitality industry as a bartender. Cherishing time spent together with their family, they enjoyed boating, water-skiing, swimming, and camping. They raised four children of their own, as well as helping to care for grandson, Joey and mother figure to Marilyn (Gildow) Jordan, as well as other neighborhood children. She extended her love well beyond her immediate family, inviting those without family or in need to Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners, she never wanted anyone to feel alone.

After raising their family, Ruie and Carl retired to rural Old Town, Dixie County, Florida, where they kept a small farm with chickens, bunnies, horses, ducks, and a goat. During this time, they helped raise another grandchild, Jenny. Ruie remained a devoted caregiver to Carl, until his passing in 2003.

Age never slowed her down. After a period of mourning Carl’s passing she began living a life of fun and adventure with her family. She loved riding motorcycles, attending NASCAR and NHRA races, going to Florida Gators college football games, and embracing every opportunity to explore new experiences. Fiercely independent, Ruie continued to live in Old Town and, at the age of eighty-seven, with the help of Jesus “the Carpenter,” put a new roof on her barn.

Eventually the difficult decision was made to leave the home she had shared with Carl for so many years and move to Jacksonville, Florida. There, she thrived in a home filled with love and familiarity alongside her granddaughter, Jenny, husband, Chris, and their two children, Ruie and River.

Ruie spent her final year of life under the loving care of her daughter, Carlette, and husband, Charles, in Grant-Valkaria, Florida.

On January 8, 2026, Ruie reached the incredible milestone of becoming a centenarian. She had hoped to break the family record by living to 105 years of age but God always in control, called her home on January 25, 2026.

In her final days she was surrounded by family, who embraced her with their love. She left this world with family holding her, feeling the depth of their love and answering the call of Jesus to come home. Her love for her family was surpassed only by her love for God and Jesus. This is her enduring legacy.

Ruie is survived by her brother, Carson Whitt, of Ohio.

She was preceded in death by her children Woody Paul Wells and Billy Faye Moore (formerly Drake, later Stokes).

She is survived by her three children:

• Carlos Drake

• Carla Drake (formerly Cox) and her husband, Henry Ikonen

• Carlette Thomas (formerly Drake, later Sturm and Smith) and her husband, Charles Thomas

Ruie is also survived by nine grandchildren: Joey Stokes, Shanna (Erik) Hough, Richard (Amanda Fountain) Drake, Bret (Ami) Cox, Lisa (Ken) McClure, David (Teena) Sturm, Michael (Annie) Sturm, Jenny (Chris) Wasilewski, and Jesse (Sherri) Smith; as well as 26 great-grandchildren and many great-great-grandchildren.

Services will be held at Forward Community Church of God, 209 7th St W, Palmetto, FL 34221, on February 21, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. Final interment will take place at Mansion Memorial Park in Ellenton, Florida.