Gary Drake Obituary Gary Lee Drake passed away peacefully at his home in Nampa on Nov 20th at age 86. Gary was born at Mercy Hospital in Nampa, ID. He was the second son of Alpha Gibson Drake and Robert (Bob) Milton Drake. The family spent Garys early childhood at Sinker Creek in Owyhee County where his father was the foreman, and his mother cooked for a sheep camp. They were flooded out when the Sinker Creek Dam broke in 1943, and the family moved back to Nampa. Gary attended Happy Valley grade school and Kuna schools, with perfect attendance for all 12 grades. He attended Boise Junior College and studied drafting. His father became ill, and he returned to the farm to help him. He loved farming, which was his livelihood. One summer, Gary met a Boise girl named Fern Dudley when she came to Kuna to be a nanny. They married a year later, welcomed four children, and sharecropped for 6 years, then purchased a dairy farm in Kuna. They milked Holstein cows for 27 years, with Drake Dairy Farms winning awards for milk production in the Treasure Valley; switching to beef cattle until Gary retired at age 69. Sports was Garys lifelong passion, with baseball being his favorite. He was the bat boy for the Arch Taylor Baseball team when his Uncle Tommy Gibson played shortstop. He played second base with the Nampa Clippers. Gary and Fern held season tickets at the Boise Hawks for 30 years and Boise State and College of Idaho (basketball and football), rarely missing a game. Through the years, they met many lifetime friends at sporting events and while playing pinochle. Gary coached youth baseball and spent hours watching his kids athletic games and school events, adjusting the milking schedule so that he could attend. He supported all his childrens extra-curricular activities, especially 4-H and FFA. Upon retirement, Gary and Fern moved to the Triple Crown neighborhood in Nampa, traveled to National Parks, rode ATVs (crossed the Magruder trail four times), and enjoyed the company of many good friends. For 10 years, they went to Spring Training, watching hundreds of baseball games. They spent time with grandchildren playing games and watching them in their sports and school activities. Gary is survived by his wife of 62 years, Fern; their children: Brenda (Dan) Blitman, Bob (Carla) Drake, Cindy (Matt) Russell, and Cory Drake; and grandchildren: Max (Emily) Blitman, Calvin Blitman, Austin (Kendra) Drake, Adam Drake, Drake (Georgiana) Russell, Blaisien (Monica) Russell, Larkin Russell, Trevan Russell; great grandson: Everett Benjamin Russell; Sister-in-law: Kathy Drake; niece: Ronna (Brian) Marx and family; nephew: Ryan (Sheryl) Drake and family; and many cousins including Robin Gibson and Wava (Mike) Kaufman. He is preceded in death by his parents Alpha and Bob Drake, and his brother, Ted Drake. A viewing will be held at the Nampa Funeral Home on Thursday, Dec 5th from 5-7 pm. The Memorial Service will be held at the Nampa Funeral Home on Friday, Dec 6th at 11 am with lunch following the service at the Nampa Elks Club, where Gary was a lifetime member. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Kuna Boys and Girls Club, the Nampa Elks, or a charity of your choice. A special thank you to the wonderful staff at Nampa St. Alphonsus Cancer Center. Services Visitation Thursday December 5, 2024 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM Nampa Funeral Home 415 12th Ave. So. Nampa, Idaho 83651 Memorial Service Friday December 6, 2024 11:00 AM Nampa Funeral Home 415 12th Ave. So. Nampa, Idaho 83651