Betty Drake

(From Ozark Funeral Home)

Betty Ruth Drake, 89, of Stella, Missouri, passed away peacefully on Wednesday afternoon, March 6, 2024, in the warmth of her daughter's home in Colcord, Oklahoma, after months of failing health. Born on March 12, 1934, in rural McDonald County Missouri in the community of Cyclone, Betty's life was a testament to the values of hard work, family, and faith.

Betty's early years were spent in the rolling hills of Missouri where she developed a love for the simple pleasures of rural life. At the age of fifteen, she moved to Bethpage, Missouri, and in 1951, she graduated from Stella High School.

After graduation, Betty began working at Southwestern Bell Telephone in Joplin, for a few years. Her heart found its match when she married Percy Willard Drake on September 29, 1956, in Miami, Oklahoma. Together, they embarked on a lifelong journey of love and partnership, working side by side on their dairy farm in Stella. Betty's work continued at Wal-Mart until her retirement in 2016 at the age of eighty-two.

Betty's life was a reflection of her faith as a member of the Church of Christ. Her spiritual beliefs guided her actions and brought comfort and strength to those around her. She had a passion for collecting antiques. Betty's love for horses and farming was only matched by her dedication to her flowerbeds and the care she took in decorating and maintaining her home. Her selfless nature and loving demeanor were the cornerstones of her character, leaving an indelible mark on all who knew her.

Betty was preceded in death by her beloved parents, Virgil and Ruth (Harvey) Mahan. 

Her legacy lives on through her devoted daughters, Pam Sisson and her husband, David, of Colcord, Oklahoma, and Jada Azbill of Bentonville, Arkansas. She was a proud grandmother to Heather Daugherty, Charles Nunn, Mason Azbill, and Miranda Evans, and she cherished her role as a great-grandmother to seven great-grandchildren and six great-great-grandchildren. Betty also opened her heart to eight adopted grandchildren, Walter, Jessey, James, Jacob, Emily, Luke, Melissa Sisson, and Rachel Butler, all of whom she loved as her own.

Funeral services are 10:00 a.m. Saturday, March 9, 2024 in the Anderson Chapel of the Ozark Funeral Homes with Bro. Billy Joe Gentry officiating. Burial will follow at Union Cemetery near Longview. 

 Those honoring her life by serving as pallbearers are Mason Azbill, Jacob Sisson, David Sisson, Andrew Sherman, Bob Easter and JR Drake. The family will receive friends on Saturday morning beginning at 9:00 a.m. in the funeral home chapel. Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Ozark Funeral Home in Anderson, Missouri.