Maxine Ethel Drake

Maxine Ethel Drake

Maxine Ethel Drake, age 94, resident of Fort Scott, Kan., died Friday, Dec. 4, 2015, at Mercy Hospital Fort Scott. She was born April 17, 1921, in Mapleton, Kan., the daughter of Everett Bertram Hammons and Ethel Monterey Hampton Hammons. Maxine graduated from Fulton High School with the class of 1939. While in high school, she excelled in athletics and was a member of the softball and basketball teams. She was also the salutatorian of her class. She married Herbert Leon Drake on June 21, 1941, at Baltimore, Md. He preceded her in death on Feb. 3, 1984. Maxine had worked in the Bourbon County Courthouse for 41 years. Some of her time was spent in the extension office, but the majority was in the county appraiser's office where she served as deputy county appraiser and helped with two entire county appraisals. She retired from the county in March of 1996. Maxine was an active member of the Community Christian Church. She enjoyed traveling and spending time outdoors. She was devoted to her family and enjoyed family gatherings at birthdays and holidays.

Survivors include her children, Sharon Elder and husband, Edgar of Redfield, Kan., and Alan Drake and wife, Billie Jo, of Fort Scott; seven grandchildren, Paula Coyan and husband, Doug of Redfield, Julie Schafer and husband, Kris, of Uniontown, Kan., Delbert Elder and wife, Jenni, and, Janet Clayton and husband, Danny, all of Redfield, Dusty Drake and wife, Amy, of Fort Scott, Doug Drake and wife, Taya and Delisa Fryar and husband, Jason, all of Pittsburg, Kan.; 21 great-grandchildren and 12 great-great-grandchildren. Also surviving are numerous nieces and nephews. In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by three brothers, Russell, Glen and Dale Hammons; a sister, Ruth Hessong and a great-grandson, Alex Drake.

Rev. Dusty Drake will conduct funeral services at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 9, at the Community Christian Church. Burial will follow in the Hatch Cemetery west of Uniontown. The family received friends from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Cheney Witt Chapel. Memorials are suggested to the Community Christian Church and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main St., P.O. Box 347, Fort Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.