It is with great sadness that the Drake family announces the passing of our beloved Marion Smith Drake of Thomasville, GA, formerly of Hastings-on-Hudson, NY. Marion (age 74) passed away peacefully in the comfort of her Thomasville home where she spent many happy years both as an adult and a child.
Marion was born on July 8, 1940, in Orange, NJ to Peter and Jesse Smith. Marion spent her childhood years enjoying summer months in Chester, NJ and warm winters in Thomasville, GA where she was able to enjoy her father’s passion for gardening and the outdoors. Her father Peter was an award-winning gardener who spent a number of years working for the Chubb family. She attended elementary school in Chester, NJ and Midway, GA; Roxbury High School in Succasunna, NJ (Class of 1958); and Westminster College in PA. Recently, Marion helped coordinate reunions and alumni events for her Roxbury High School graduating class and thoroughly enjoyed reconnecting with her classmates.
Throughout her life Marion worked with children. As a teacher both in the classroom and out, Marion shared her love of nature with those around her. She began her professional career in Port Washington as a teacher. There she met Keith Corey Drake, her late husband, and father to her two sons and stepdaughters. After being a stay at home mom, she restarted her career as a kindergarten aide at Hillside Elementary School in Hastings-on-Hudson, NY. Hastings is also where she also raised her family. Many local families have fond memories of “Mrs. Drake” as the inspiring woman who gave students unique experiences that include, fishing at Sugar Pond with homemade fishing rods, learning about artifacts brought back from the South, and showing them creative and imaginative ways to spend their time. People often stopped their cars to say hello as Marion tended to her wild flower garden in the front yard of her home. In her spare time, Marion also shared her “green thumb” with the gardens of Harvest on the Hudson a local Hastings restaurant.
Another passion of Marion’s was running and training dogs to become Master Field Hunters. A number of the dogs that Marion trained won honors and were featured in magazines and other publications. Most recently she adopted a loving canine companion whom she named “JCN” in honor of her daughters-in-law and lifelong friend Nancy.
Upon her retirement, Marion returned to Hollydale, in Thomasville, GA, the home and property that she inherited from her late parents. There she happily tended to the vast azalea bushes planted by her father, mowed her lawn, took her car on “swings” around the property, fed the fish in her pond, and reconnected with childhood friends. Marion also enjoyed a number of trips to the Gulf Coast where she enjoyed collecting seashells, looking for shark teeth, and eating fresh oysters.
Marion was a powerful source of love and strength for her children. As a single mother, in the wake of her husband’s passing, she worked tirelessly to provide her sons with a well-rounded life including sports, education, and time at the village pool. Her strength was also exemplified throughout her long courageous battle with cancer. After undergoing a number of treatments and procedures Marion made many impressive recoveries and as such was able to continue to be active in the lives of those that mattered most to her. This especially includes her grandchildren, with whom she shared her creative interests. When they were not able to be together, she often mailed meaningful tokens to them including homemade seashell collections and books with personal inscriptions.
Marion is survived by two sons Peter Randolph (wife Carrie, children Sally and Jonathan) Drake and Thomas Hendry (wife Julia DiSalvo, children Joseph and Grace) Drake, as well as two step-daughters June Drake (husband David, children Allison (Grayson) Fahrner, Thomas, Carolyn and Jack) Hayford, and Sarah Drake. In addition, she leaves many friends and loved ones both from the NY/NJ area and South Georgia.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to one of two organizations that Marion loved and supported: Tall Timbers Research Station and Land Conservancy of Tallahassee, FL, or Bird Song Nature Center of Thomasville, GA.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Marion Smith Ake, please visit our flower store.
Marion was born on July 8, 1940, in Orange, NJ to Peter and Jesse Smith. Marion spent her childhood years enjoying summer months in Chester, NJ and warm winters in Thomasville, GA where she was able to enjoy her father’s passion for gardening and the outdoors. Her father Peter was an award-winning gardener who spent a number of years working for the Chubb family. She attended elementary school in Chester, NJ and Midway, GA; Roxbury High School in Succasunna, NJ (Class of 1958); and Westminster College in PA. Recently, Marion helped coordinate reunions and alumni events for her Roxbury High School graduating class and thoroughly enjoyed reconnecting with her classmates.
Throughout her life Marion worked with children. As a teacher both in the classroom and out, Marion shared her love of nature with those around her. She began her professional career in Port Washington as a teacher. There she met Keith Corey Drake, her late husband, and father to her two sons and stepdaughters. After being a stay at home mom, she restarted her career as a kindergarten aide at Hillside Elementary School in Hastings-on-Hudson, NY. Hastings is also where she also raised her family. Many local families have fond memories of “Mrs. Drake” as the inspiring woman who gave students unique experiences that include, fishing at Sugar Pond with homemade fishing rods, learning about artifacts brought back from the South, and showing them creative and imaginative ways to spend their time. People often stopped their cars to say hello as Marion tended to her wild flower garden in the front yard of her home. In her spare time, Marion also shared her “green thumb” with the gardens of Harvest on the Hudson a local Hastings restaurant.
Another passion of Marion’s was running and training dogs to become Master Field Hunters. A number of the dogs that Marion trained won honors and were featured in magazines and other publications. Most recently she adopted a loving canine companion whom she named “JCN” in honor of her daughters-in-law and lifelong friend Nancy.
Upon her retirement, Marion returned to Hollydale, in Thomasville, GA, the home and property that she inherited from her late parents. There she happily tended to the vast azalea bushes planted by her father, mowed her lawn, took her car on “swings” around the property, fed the fish in her pond, and reconnected with childhood friends. Marion also enjoyed a number of trips to the Gulf Coast where she enjoyed collecting seashells, looking for shark teeth, and eating fresh oysters.
Marion was a powerful source of love and strength for her children. As a single mother, in the wake of her husband’s passing, she worked tirelessly to provide her sons with a well-rounded life including sports, education, and time at the village pool. Her strength was also exemplified throughout her long courageous battle with cancer. After undergoing a number of treatments and procedures Marion made many impressive recoveries and as such was able to continue to be active in the lives of those that mattered most to her. This especially includes her grandchildren, with whom she shared her creative interests. When they were not able to be together, she often mailed meaningful tokens to them including homemade seashell collections and books with personal inscriptions.
Marion is survived by two sons Peter Randolph (wife Carrie, children Sally and Jonathan) Drake and Thomas Hendry (wife Julia DiSalvo, children Joseph and Grace) Drake, as well as two step-daughters June Drake (husband David, children Allison (Grayson) Fahrner, Thomas, Carolyn and Jack) Hayford, and Sarah Drake. In addition, she leaves many friends and loved ones both from the NY/NJ area and South Georgia.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to one of two organizations that Marion loved and supported: Tall Timbers Research Station and Land Conservancy of Tallahassee, FL, or Bird Song Nature Center of Thomasville, GA.
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