Mary Louise (Moore) Drake, 91 years old, resident of Manhattan, passed away on March 7, 2025 at 10:36 p.m. She was born in Piedmont, on September 17,1933. She was the daughter of Homer and Iveta Moore (Leatherburry), and the oldest of three children. She was married to Calvin Drake on Nov. 28, 1955 in Piedmont. She graduated from Kansas State University with a degree in early childhood education in 1963. She worked at the telephone company in Piedmont after high school, and after college, owned her own nursery school in Arkansas City, taught kindergarten in Blacksburg, Va., was a realtor and broker for 18 years, owning her own office (Drake Realty) and later working for Ryan and Sons in Manhattan, until retirement. She was an active member of the First United Methodist Church in Manhattan, sang in choir and was a member of United Methodist Women.
She bowled weekly, loved gardening, riding her horse, and caring for her chickens. She loved her family, especially her grandchildren.
She is survived by her son, Darren Drake and his wife Adryanna and sons Samuel and Elijah, her sister, Ronda Robertson and family, and her sister-in-law Carol Moore and family.
Services are pending at this time. Irvin Parkview Funeral Home is handling arrangements.
