Diane Lynne Drake
Diane Lynne Drake, daughter of Curt and Donna Wilson, was born on February 13, 1958, in Mount Ayr, IA. She was welcomed home by her brother Douglas and later David. Diane grew up on farms outside of Maloy and Redding and attended her elementary school years there. In middle school, she began attending Mount Ayr Community Schools, becoming a decorated athlete in basketball, softball, and track. Di and her teammate still hold a few track records to this day. She graduated from Mount Ayr Community Schools in 1976 and attended Marshalltown Community College where she obtained her associates degree. She transferred to Northwest Missouri State University, where she graduated with her bachelor’s degree in physical education in 1980.
Diane married her classmate, Greg Drake, on November 1,1980 at the United Methodist Church in Mount Ayr. After Chandra Kay was born on August 8, 1982, Diane and Greg purchased their first and only home on Madison Street. On a stormy early morning on March 9, 1987, Chanelle Jean joined the family a month earlier than her due date. Due to the ice storm, Greg and Lloyd followed the ambulance to Des Moines while Diane had surgery and recovered in Mount Ayr. Greg and Diane spent almost a month at Blank Children’s Hospital with Chanelle and spent several nights in the Ronald McDonald house before officially welcoming her home.
After college, Diane began her nearly 20-year career at Michell Drug Store. She cherished her longtime friendships with Anita, Linda, Steve, Cindy, Carma, Bryan, and Shirley. In 1997, Diane was hired as a Purchasing Clerk at Ringgold County Hospital under Ina Chapin.
After Ina’s retirement, Diane served as the Purchasing Director until 2015. After retirement, Diane stayed busy working as an associate at Mount Ayr Community Schools, a caregiver at Tina’s Tots, and a home health aide at Ringgold County Public Health.
Di was an excellent cook who was known for her famous Sunday dinners. She loved to make homemade noodles, fried chicken, rice crispy bars, chocolate chip cookies, and almost every meal included gravy! If you didn’t make it to Sunday dinner, she would call you to deliver. She was an excellent gardener who loved to can and share all of her harvest with the neighbors. Di was also a very talented seamstress. She fixed countless zippers in Greg’s work coats, hemmed pants for her girls, fixed Karly’s snagged dresses, and proudly sewed on Griffyn and Gavyn’s new taekwondo badges on their unforms.
Diane was most proud of her family, especially her grandchildren. She always jumped at the chance to watch them whenever needed. She was known to meet the boys on their walk home with popsicles and treats and always sent the girls home with a baggie of chips.
Diane passed away on December 8, 2024. She was preceded her in death by her parents and mother-in-law Kay Drake.
Diane is survived by her husband of 44 years Greg; daughters and grandchildren: Chandra (Scott) Poore, Karly and Kamryn Poore, and Chanelle (Justin) Cole, Griffyn, and Gavyn Cole; brothers Doug (Lisa) Wilson, Dave (Sandy) Wilson; father-in-law Lloyd Drake, brothers-in-law Doug (Val) Drake, Joe (Nancy) Drake; sister-in-law Kris (Terry) Moffitt and a host of nieces and nephews and special friends.
Toodles…we’ll see ya later, “babes”! Love ya, “Di”, Momma Di, Grandma, and Nana!
Armstrong Funeral Home in Mount Ayr is in charge of the arrangements.
