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Kathleen (Kay) Drake was born on June 24, 1921, in the new Chase Hospital to Axel (Alec) and Kitty (Catherine) Aulin. She spent most of her early years on her family’s homestead in Chase Creek and finished her education in the Chase Superior School.

When she was still in her teens she went to work for Mr. and Mrs. Reid in the little town of Shuswap just west of Chase. When Reid’s ranch was sold to the Drakes, she fell in love and married their eldest son, Willard, who adored her. The young couple worked on the farm and their first baby, Elizabeth (Betty), was born there.

The young family moved a lot, first to Beaverlodge, Alberta, then to Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, where their second daughter, Gloria, was born. They moved from Saskatoon to New Westminster when Willard became a Watkins salesman. Their only son, Milton, was born there.

Finally, they moved back permanently to the Chase area.

Kay started working full time when Milton started school, first at Chase General Merchants where Willard was manager, then at Beatty’s General Store where she remained through different changes of owners, until she retired.

While she was working full time, she started raising and breeding registered Quarter Horses as a hobby. Willard died suddenly in 1980, leaving her a widow for the next 36 years. She quietly and courageously accepted all the challenges life threw in her way.

She ended her life peacefully in the quiet, caring atmosphere of the Gemstone Care Home in Brocklehurst where they all loved her for her ready smile and uncomplaining attitude toward life. She was 95 years old.

Kay leaves her three children: Milton (Pam), Gloria (Lawrence) Hystad and Betty (Ralph) McDonald.

She also leaves grandchildren: Louise (Brian) Campbell, Patti McDonald, Leona (Ryan) McEachern and Fiona McDonald, Sheri (Dorian) Boswell, Lana (Jason) Chimney, Dawn (Brent) Lipinski, Cindy (Ruben) Schneider, Stacey (Rick) Deleeuw, Vikki (Everett) Prescott and Debi Drake.

And great grandchildren: Samantha Spooner, Jenna Spooner, Sheridan (Mark) Acton, Kendall (Damon) Marken, Yasmin McDonald, Piero Ferrando McDonald, Nolan McEachern, Eva McEachern, Madelaine McEachern, Ashleigh Johannesen, Sean Ellis, Levi Boswell, Abby Boswell, Jeff (Carm) Chimney, Aiden Chimney, Kaitlin Chimney, Paige Lipinski, James Lipinski, Meghen Schneider, Andrew Schneider, Mercedi Deleeuw, Shanna Deleeuw, Tarin Deleeuw, JaiLynn Prescott, Bryce Prescott, Cheyanne Drake and Dane Drake.

And one great great granddaughter, Eden Spooner.

Her funeral was held at the Chase Community Hall on October 15, 2016.



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