Glee Draper

She was born on February, 4, 1927 named Elinor Glee Patten. Her Gleeful name after her mother, Glee Annette Loomis Patten who was named after an American Indian neighbor of the Pattens.

Between the markers of Glee being born and passing away in Seattle, Washington, she created an enormous impact on her world and everyone in it.

A tapestry in her childhood home read: "It is the WISEST - who grieve most at loss of time". And wise she was. Her parents saw her talents and enrolled her in dance acrobatics in a West Seattle studio where at age 8 she performed before the 10c movies during intermission. She did backbend rolls down the aisle to flip onto the stage where my father, about age 10, watched in awe...not realizing he saw his future roll by.

Her father, Maurice, had her try ice skating which she trained daily through high school leaving early from classes to skate at the Ballard Ice arena. After graduation she joined the Ice Follies. After her tours, she met Charles Draper Sr at a church youth group. I was told she sat next to his fiance. He intently looked across the table, changed his mind and the rest is history. Married December 30th, 1947 they marked 74 years before Charles passed at 96 years old.

The 3 children, Kristine Glee Draper Sproul, Charles David Draper III, and Marlee Annette Draper thrived with Glee's daily adventures. We joined her parents also with crafts, hobbies, tole painting, macrame, pottery, woodworking, cake decorating, flower arranging, knitting, sewing (she made all our clothes and even wedding and bridesmaid dresses), costume design, there were trailer trips to oceans, deserts, fishing, rock and shellhounding, skiing, girl scouts, camping, Sunday school, athletics (at 38 she showed us how to walk on our hands across the living room floor). She drove us and our friends everywhere. Hood Canal every summer, she shucked oysters, swam, and finished many china paintings. To be with her husband, she took up golf, becoming club champion. In her later years, she trained in Tai Chi. She was known to get out of the car while waiting for Charles Sr, and practice her 24 form...Tai Chi Glee!

She gave her time and resources to help her 12 grandchildren advance in music, sports, and any needs. Her vibrance lives on in them as well as her 14 great grandchildren, and 3 great great grandchildren.

A visit with Grandma Glee encouraged us to look at the benefits in life. Her exuberant happiness was infectious! Let us continue her message of Joy! Positive Positive Positive