Francis "Drake" Morin

1941 - 2023

Francis "Drake" Morin
Francis "Drake" Morin, age 81, of Greenville, passed away surrounded by family at Corewell Health Butterworth Hospital on Friday, September 1, 2023. He was born in Akron, Ohio on November 6, 1941, the son of John and Ruth Elizabeth (Waid) Morin.
Drake graduated from Jackson High School in 1959 and received a Bachelor of Business Administration from Albion College in 1963. He joined the Marine Reserves in 1964 and trained at Camp Pendleton, California, and in Puerto Rico. He was honorably discharged in 1970.
Drake was a loyal family man and loved holding the title of Husband, Dad, and Grandpa. He looked forward to family gatherings for every holiday and especially enjoyed celebrating his birthday with a delicious steak or walleye dinner. He was a passionate outdoorsman who enjoyed hunting and fishing and had a deep appreciation for nature. He worked as a welder and teacher, was a talented carpenter and handyman, and was the go-to fix-it guy for his family and friends. Later in life, Drake learned how to play the acoustic guitar and spent many afternoons entertaining his family with his rendition of classic songs from Jimmy Buffet, Eric Clapton, and Tom Petty. His musical interests also made him a regular at the annual Wheatland Music Festival. Drake and his wife, Susan, enjoyed traveling together, with the Upper Peninsula as their favorite destination. He kept busy cutting wood for Susan's crafts and spent many hours in his custom woodshop. He loved being around people and always shared silly stories and jokes with whoever would listen. He had a unique sense of humor that always left those around him with a smile. He was an avid reader and was very interested in history, especially the WWII era. Ernest Hemingway was his favorite author, as they shared a deep passion for the outdoors.
Drake is survived by his wife of 57 years, Susan Morin; children, Jennifer Marinos, Julie (Jeff) Edwards, Kristen (John) Scanlon; grandchildren, Jordan Edwards, Sophia Marinos, Katie Scanlon, Jack Scanlon; sister, Marcia Taggart; sisters-in-law, Barbara (Robert) Plough, and Sally Gereau; brother-in-law, Paul Needham; and many loving nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Ruth Elizabeth Morin; father and mother-in-law, Charles and Neva Needham; brother-in-law, Robert Gereau; and nephew, Robert Plough.
Memorial services for Drake will be held on Friday, September 8, 2023, at noon at Oakwood Christian Reformed Church in Belding, Michigan. Pastor Jeff Meyer will serve as officiant. Family members will greet visitors from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. prior to the service. Military honors will be rendered under the auspices of Ray I. Booth American Legion Post 101. Memorial contributions may be directed to the American Stroke Association. Memories and messages of condolence may be shared at www.hurstfh.com.