Ralph Clayton Drake

1943 - 2013

Boise, ID

Ralph Clayton Drake

Ralph Clayton Drake, 70, of Boise, ID, passed away Friday, July 26, 2013, after a brief illness. He was born February 6, 1943, in Carmel, to Miles and Phyllis Drake.

Ralph was the youngest of four children. He was raised in Seaside, surrounded by many aunts, uncles, and cousins. He attended local schools - Covell Elementary, Fremont Jr. High, and Monterey High School. He married his high school sweetheart, Linda King, and they were married for 53 years. They were blessed with three daughters - Laurie, Deanna, and Jennifer.

Ralph worked for Salinas Dental Lab for 13 years. At the age of 30, the family moved to Salinas and he went to work for Young Distributing. About 1979, he went to work for Couch Distributing in Watsonville. He held many different positions there including salesman, draft installer, and Monterey County Area Manager. He ran many special events during this time such as Monterey Jazz Festival and Laguna Seca Races. He would finish his working career with them.

Ralph was very involved with the Pop Warner Football Cub/Tiger Organization from 1973 to 1983. This was a very rewarding and happy time in his life. He coached with much success; meeting many fine families in the Salinas Valley. On a hunting trip to Idaho in September 1996, Ralph went to church with his cousin, Merle. There he had an extremely strong spiritual experience which would change his life forever. He became a Christian and all things were made new to him again. Ralph was a regular attendee of the Boise First Baptist Church.

In the summer of 2000, he was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma. In 2001, the family moved en masse to Boise, ID. There he underwent a successful stem cell transplant in the fall of that year; and although he had treatment off and on through the years, he enjoyed good health.

Ralph loved watching his six grandchildren grow up. He had such a zest for life, a love of people, and never knew a stranger. He enjoyed doing so many things - beautiful woodworking, golfing, bow hunting, fly fishing, guitar playing and singing, and watching the 49ers and BSU Broncos. We will miss him so much, but know that he is with the Lord.

Ralph is survived by his mother, Phyllis; wife, Linda; daughters and sons-in-law; Laurie and Mark Hendrickson; Deanna and Clark Mallam; and Jennifer and Brent Brandon; his six beloved grandchildren: Brittney (Aaron), Derek, Andrew, Elizabeth, Olivia, and Nathan; and sister, Nadine Peterson. He also leaves behind many sisters and brothers-in-law (on wife's side), nieces and nephews, and special fishing buddies; cousin, Merle; nephews, Mike and Brook; and friend, Jim. He was preceded in death by his father, Miles Drake; his sister, Beverly; and his brother, Mike.

The family would like to thank Dr. Norman Zuckerman who took such good care of him these past 12 years; and also Kathleen Clifford, Stem Cell Coordinator, and all of the wonderful nurses at MSTI.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Luke's MSTI, Attn: Foundation Office, 190 E. Bannock St., Boise, ID 83712; or the Leukemia Lymphoma Foundation.

A Viewing will be held from 5 to 8 p.m., Tuesday, July 30, 2013, at Summers Funeral Homes, Boise Chapel, 1205 W. Bannock St., Boise, ID.

Funeral services will be at 2:00 p.m., Wednesday, July 31, 2013, at First Baptist Church, 607 N. 13th St., Boise, ID. Burial will follow at Pioneer Cemetery, Boise.

Memories and condolences may be shared with the family on Ralph's memorial webpage at www.summersfuneral.com