Kathryn "Kathy" Rebecca (Jackson) Drake
April 26, 1948 ~ October 13, 2023
Kathryn “Kathy” Rebecca (Jackson) Drake, 75, passed away peacefully surrounded by her family in Wichita on Friday, October 13t, 2023. She was born April 26, 1948 in Kansas City, MO to Harry “Hap” and Kathryn Jackson, and grew up on their HK- Ranch in the Flint Hills outside of Eureka, KS. On May 31, 1969 she was united in marriage to her husband of 54 years, Raymond Drake, also from Eureka. After getting married Kathy and her husband relocated to Wichita, KS where she made a lifelong career out of her passion for being a hairdresser. In 1976 they welcomed their first son, Ryan “Scott” home, followed in 1980 by their youngest son, Troy. She was a faithful lifetime member of the Lutheran Church and faithful follower of Christ, attending Christ Lutheran/Upper Fall River Church of Eureka and later Reformation Lutheran Church in Wichita.Kathy was always involved with her family, friends, church, and in her community. She attended every possible one of her boys’ school functions, sports practices and games, and numerous Cub and Boy Scout activities with her sons. She was highly active in her church and faithfully attended services, including her churches women’s circle, brought her boys to every Sunday school and her grandchildren to countless church programs. She volunteered any additional free time she had to her community, including the Ken-Mar Neighborhood Association and Victory in the Valley. Her family and friends knew her as a caring and honest woman who would always make time for anyone in need of her help.She is survived by her husband Raymond Drake; sons, Ryan “Scott” and Troy (Jamie) Drake; eight grand-children; and three great-grandchildren; and her sister, Margie Swisher. She is preceded in death, and now reunited, by her father, Harry “Hap” Jackson and mother, Kathryn (Palmer) Jackson; her brother, Harold “Edd” Jackson and sister-in-law, Pam Jackson.Visitation will be Wednesday October 18 from 6:00-8:00 pm at Downing & Lahey East (6555 E. Central in Wichita). Funeral services will be Thursday October 19 at 10:00 am at Reformation Lutheran Church (7601 E. 13th St. N. in Wichita), with a graveside service following at Upper Fall River Lutheran Church Cemetery outside of Eureka at 2:30 pm. Memorials may be made to Good Shepherd Hospice, 7829 E Rockhill St #403, Wichita, KS 67206; or Reformation Lutheran Church, 7601 E. 13th St. N., Wichita, KS 67206.
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Our mother, Betty Fornshell, thought so much of Kathy and her family. Kathy was always so good to our mom.
We are so sorry for your loss.
Janelle Burge and Nancy Hinners
Cousin Kathy: saddened so much to hear of your passing, your Calfifornia family will miss your kindness and innocence! I’ve known you since you came to the Jackson family, and always thought the world of you. Now I’m 78, and still fondly remember what times we had together, especially during our visits to Kansas ‘in the day.’ My summer at the H-K ranch in 1962 was quite an adventure, and I still recall our Fourth of July bucking bales and eating fried chicken at eight pm, while a real black Kansas thunder-bumper raged! And it was 118-degrees that day! I also recall in 1958 taking a bath in two inches of water which you, Edd, Scott and Randy had already used; it was some drought! It was great that you and your gang could come to our family reunion and to Mom’s 100th birthday celebration; sorry we didn’t have more time to talk.
Well, we will all miss you more than you would ever suspect, I think — SS and I once admitted to one another that we both had a ‘crush’ on you! Farewell, cousin Kathy! Wick
I worked with Kathy for many years in the hairdressing business. She was a joy to work with and she shared stories with me about her wonderful family. I am so sorry for your loss. Being a believer in Jesus Christ I know she is in heaven with her Savior and is free from her health issues she had these last years. May God give you Peace and Comfort as you grieve. Melvah Emerson
So sorry for your loss. Kathy was our Avon lady when I was growing up. My dad was one of the barbers at Ken Mar.
Nancy (Long) Fugate
Kathy was my Grandmother’s hairdresser. She took such good care of her ladies and was SO good to my Grandmother Lillian Razak.
God has gained an angel. Kathy was so sweet and kind. She will be missed by family and friends. Great to hear she was buried at Upper Fall River. She’s home now! Especially thinking of Raymond at this time. Blessings to family, Cheryl Olson Hjetland.
Scott Humble–Cousin from California
Our family is sad to learn of Kathy’s passing. We have multitudes of fond memories of Kathy and her family, both from our childhoods and from the times we spent at family reunions in later years.
Kathy was always a happy, upbeat, optimistic, and loving presence. I have great memories of haying, wrangling sheep bareback on pastured rodeo bronco stock (one horse named Yellow Fever), swimming and fishing in the pond (once caught a 9lb. catfish on on a trot line), milking the cow, riding Flicka out in the pasture, feeding the chickens, dodging the Guinea fowl (frightening), riding in the back of the truck just hanging on, harvesting wheat, memorizing Bible verses at the Lutheran Vacation Bible School, and best of all, chasing around and being silly at the ice cream socials in the long warm evenings. Kathy was the best kind of friend (who was also a girl) to have. Since she was my cousin, I could not admit to my crush on her, but I could bask in her sunny personality and enjoy her joy of life. I will never forget you, Kathy. You were a bright, bright light in my life and I was always the better for having known you.
My and my family’s sincere condolences are sent to the rest of the Drake family. Kathy was a blessing to the world and, though we will miss her presence, her positive influence continues through you.
God bless you and keep you.
Cousin Scott