Nadine grew up in Sulphur Bluff, Texas in the country. Their house was so rural that they didn't even have electricity! She remembered how exciting it was when they got electricity. She was the fourth child of eleven. When she and her sister were old enough, they each had a baby brother or sister to care for when they got home from school.
She graduated from Sulphur Bluff High School Class of 1944.
She married the love of her life, James Drake on Friday October 25, 1946 and together they had three amazing children: daughter Cheryl and two sons Gary and Charles Drake. Nadine dedicated her life to raising her children and running "The Farm". Jim and Nadine were married 10 days short of 50 years when Jim passed away in 1996.
Nadine was affectionally known as "Grandmother" to her family. She loved quilting, fishing, reading and gardening. She was also a very talented seamstress. Her favorite place to be was on "The Farm" where she and Jim retired in 1986. She lived there on her beloved farm till 2015. You can take the girl out of the country but you can't take the country out of the girl!
She absolutely adored her four grandchildren and then her ten great grandchildren. Some of her grandchildren's fondest memories where the times they spent with her on "The Farm".
"All I need today is a little bit of coffee and a whole lot of Jesus." Nadine’s favorite saying.
She will be greatly missed by many as a mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend.
Nadine is survived by; Daughter Cheryl Andrews; Son and Daughter-in-law, Gary (Mary Jo) Drake; and Son Charles Drake, as well as siblings Gay Hopkins and Hoyle (Ann) Julian.
Nadine was preceded in death by her Husband Jim Drake; Father John Julian and Mother Myrtle Chester Julian; son-in-law Frank Andrews; eight siblings and her beloved Black Lab Blackie.
A Visitation for Nadine will be held Wednesday, January 29, 2020 from 12 PM to 1 PM with a Celebration of Life Service starting at 1 PM at Sparkman-Crane Funeral Home, 10501 Garland Road, Garland, Texas. A Graveside service will occur immediately following Celebration of Life starting at 2 PM at Grove Hill Memorial Park, 3920 Samuell Boulevard, Dallas, Texas.
Serving as Honorary Pallbearers are John Drake, Forrest Andrews, Colin Eliot, Michael Siefert, Julian Drake, Jude Drake and Graham Eliot.
The family would like to give special recognition to all the hard work and loving care that; Dr. Mirza Shabaz Hasan, Tammy Henderson, Kevin Shaner, Sarah Morriss, Chaplain Blane Brazier from Amity Hospice and the Staff at The Village at Mapleshade gave to them and Nadine.
In Lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Amity Hospice, 17311 North Dallas Parkway, Suite 125, Dallas 75248 or (Nadine’s grandson, John Drake’s, non-profit) Africa Windmill Project at www.africawindmill.org
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.Sparkman-Crane.com for the Drake family.
