Adrienne Colegrove Drake

1934 - 2016

ADRIENNE COLEGROVE DRAKE Adrienne Colegrove Drake, known affectionately as Cuddles, a member of the Hoopa Tribe, was born October 11, 1934 and passed away early the morning of April 3, 2016 at age 81. She was the daughter of the late Frank Colegrove and Lila Nixon Colegrove. She is immediately survived by her husband Dave Drake Sr., sons Rick (Terri) Hall and David Drake III; grandsons Ricky Hall, Michael Beck, Davey, Michael, and Robert Drake; granddaughters Nancy Hall, Vivienna (Mike) Orcutt, Barbara Beck and Gabrielle Drake; brother Everett Colegrove (Marjorie); sisters Marilyn Hostler and Esther Colegrove and sister-in-law Patricia Colegrove. Adrienne is also survived by 16 great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her brothers Wilfred and Francis Colegrove; brother-in-law David Hostler; sons Terry and Tom Hall and granddaughter Lila Hall. Adrienne, like her mother, was a basketmaker and a traditional medicine woman for the Brush Dance. She took an active role in grooming young women on their cultural roles and responsibilities. And for that reason, many viewed her as a respected teacher and mentor. She supported the cultural dances and was devoted to preserving and maintaining a strong spiritual work ethic. She was generous, an organizer and a leader. Her greatest joys were her trips to the mountains with family and friends to gather basket materials and acorns. She loved being near the river and was an active supporter of protecting the water that flows through the Valley. Born and raised in the Hoopa Valley, Adrienne understood the importance and need of an education. To support her family and attend college in the evenings, she was the co-owner of both the Harris & K Market and Pete's Super Market in Eureka Ca. In 1975 she received her Bachelor of Art's degree in psychology with a minor in sociology at Humboldt State University (HSU). She was a member of the first class of the Indian Teacher Education Program (ITEP), where she obtained her California teaching credential. Upon graduation she was employed as the Program Developer for the HSU Center for Indian Community Development, where she became a certified Manpower Manager from the University of Oklahoma. She assisted in developing Indian Manpower Programs in Humboldt, Del Norte and Siskiyou Counties. In 1979, she became the Adult Education Coordinator for the Hoopa Tribal Education Department. There she managed all facets of the Tribal Career Center including supervising four teachers and two staff. She was primarily responsible for graduating 110 adults with high school diploma's and equivalents. While she managed Hoopa Tribal Education she returned to HSU to pursue a certificate in Native American Studies. In 1988, Adrienne commuted daily from Hoopa to Happy Camp to work for the Karuk Tribe as the Mental Health Coordinator. In addition to her management responsibilities, she took youth to summer camps, assisted patients with treatment placements, and aided children involved in social services and Indian Child Welfare cases. During this time she became a certified substance abuse counselor. In 1991 she returned to the Hoopa Tribe and was employed as the Ki'ma:w Medical Center Clinic Manager. In 1992 she received her Master's of Arts degree in education with an emphasis in Administration from HSU. Adrienne worked for a short time at the Office of Research and Development as a Grants and Contracts Coordinator before becoming the Program Director for the Hoopa Valley Tribal Land Management Department. After leaving the land management department she worked as a substitute teacher for the Klamath-Trinity Joint Unified School District. She was an active member of the Hoopa Tribal Land Commission and a program evaluator for the Hoopa Tribal Civilian Community Corps. Funeral services will be officiated by her cousin George Blake, April 8, 2016 at 11:00 a.m. at her home on Airport Road. Burial will immediately following at the Colegrove Family Cemetery. A wake will held at the family home on Airport road on Thursday, April 7, at 7:00 p.m. Pallbearers are Everett Colegrove Jr., Ricky Hall Jr., Nolan Colegrove, Billy Colegrove, Gary Colegrove Jr., Jesse James, and David C. Hostler. Honorary pallbearers will be named at the service. Please sign the guestbook at www.times-standard.com under obituaries.