Dillard Ray Drake

Dillard Ray Drake, 45, of Burnet, Texas, went to be with his Lord and Savior on September 7, 2026. In words Dillard once shared, “Without Him none of this would be possible.” He was born on November 4, 1980, in Burnet to Jama Sue Drake and Jerry Clyde Drake.

At the heart of Dillard’s life were his momma, Jama, and his dad, Jerry. The bond he shared with each of them reached far beyond that of parent and son. He was a best friend to them both. They shaped his heart, shared in his life, and remained among the people he trusted and loved most.

Some of Dillard’s happiest memories were rooted in family. He was fortunate to grow up surrounded by both sides of his family, spending time with the Bostick family in Burnet and the Drake family in Hamilton. His childhood was filled with family, lifelong friendships, and plenty of adventures, including camping trips at the Deer Lease on Morgan Creek. He especially treasured holidays and family gatherings filled with laughter, stories, traditions, and plenty of good food. Those memories stayed with him throughout his life, including some of his favorites, Aunt Janice’s banana pudding and hot, fresh homemade rolls.

Among the people who loved Dillard deeply was Dianna Goble. Their bond was special, and her love for him remained steady throughout his life. She was part of the family and lifelong relationships that helped shape the man he became. So much of the man Dillard became was already present in the boy he was: tenderhearted, funny, drawn to adventure, and happiest surrounded by good company.

He could be afraid, especially of the dark, but fear never defined him. Even then, his loyalty was stronger than his hesitation, and his heart moved him toward the people who needed him. As his lifelong friend Andis Goble wrote, “He became the person he needed to be to meet that moment. And that is his legacy.”

Say the name Dillard to anyone who knew him, and you will hear a story about his goodness. Not goodness in the abstract, but the kind people experienced firsthand. Dillard could work all day and still stop to talk as though he had nowhere else to be. If someone needed help, he did not first decide whether the situation was convenient or the need was too great. He simply helped. You knew Dillard loved you because his actions made certain you never had to wonder.

Dillard was a family man long before he ever became a daddy. He made family of his friends and loved them in a way that left no question about what they meant to him.

Together, Dillard and Wendi welcomed their daughter, McKinley, his greatest accomplishment, his deepest joy, and the center of his world. For those who already knew the depth with which Dillard loved, it is almost impossible to imagine how much deeper that love grew when he became McKinley’s dad.

His love also extended fully to Landon and Hadley. He remained a steady presence in their lives and made sure the bonds they shared stayed strong. That was Dillard: once he made you family, you stayed family.

Dillard graduated from Burnet High School in 1999 and continued his education at Texas State Technical College in Waco. In 2017, he became a partner with Bubba Wampler in Liberty Air Heating and Cooling in Liberty Hill. His professional life reflected the same qualities he carried into every part of his life: hard work, dependability, generosity, and a willingness to help. Liberty Air became an important part of his life and another way Dillard served and cared for those around him.

Dillard loved lake life, boating, camping, and time spent with friends and family, but no place held more meaning for him than The Lake House. His dad, Jerry, purchased the home in 1967, and it became the Drake family home, filled with decades of memories, family gatherings, and traditions. It was the home where Dillard grew up, and years later, that family legacy was passed to him as the place where he raised McKinley. Now McKinley will carry that legacy forward in the same home that shaped so much of her dad’s life. To Dillard, The Lake House was never just a house. It was home, family, history, and the place he loved most.

Dillard never shied away from an adventure, a hug, or a good conversation. He was also a lifelong cat lover and a devoted Dallas Cowboys fan.

Dillard was preceded in death by his beloved father, Jerry Drake; his paternal grandparents, Owen and Vivian Drake; and his maternal grandparents, Louis and Juanita Bostick.

He is survived by his children, McKinley Rae Drake, Landon, and Hadley; their mother, Wendi; his mother, Jama Drake; his brother, Kelly; and many beloved aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, and countless friends who became family.

Visitation will be held Wednesday, September 16, 2026, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. The funeral service will be held Thursday, September 17, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. Both services will take place at Clements-Wilcox Funeral Home, 306 East Polk Street, Burnet, Texas 78611.

A Celebration of Life will follow the funeral service on Thursday, September 17, at the Hill Country Community Foundation, S.H. Reed Building, 402 E. Jackson Street, Burnet, Texas 78611.

Dillard’s absence will be felt in countless places, but so will his goodness. It remains in every life he touched, every friendship he turned into family, and most of all, in McKinley, the greatest joy of his life.

Honorary pallbearers are Paul Neely, Andis Goble, Abel Torres, Hunter Gibson, Jason Shepperd, Michael Shepperd, Bubba Wampler, and Landon Marler.

The eulogy will be delivered by Mr. Rick Neely.

Thank you for the love, prayers and support for Dillard, McKinley and all of our family. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Andreas GoFundMe. https://gofund.me/72c62183f