Leona Kay Drake

Kay Drake, 86 of Tingley, Iowa entered eternal rest Thursday, August 31, 2023 at the Mt. Ayr Health Care Center at the age of 86 years, 2 months and 16 days. A Celebration of Life Gathering will be held at the Tingley Community Building Saturday, September 9, 2023 from 2-4 PM with a remembrance message at 3 PM. Memorials may be directed to the Kay Drake Memorial Fund, to be established at a later date. The family requests casual attire for the gathering. Memories and condolences can be shared online at www.pearsonfuneralhomes.com. Pearson Family Funeral Service & Cremation Center is in charge of arrangements.

Leona Kay (Allen) Drake was born at home in Knowlton, Iowa on June 15, 1937 to Cecil Dain and Lois Orthelda (Baker) Allen. Her twin siblings Willis and Lois Ann were there to welcome her. Kay was raised on a farm northeast of Diagonal, Iowa and graduated from Diagonal in 1955. After graduation, Kay moved to Des Moines to work and that is where she met the love of her life, Lloyd Raymond Drake. They were married in Des Moines at the Asbury Methodist Church. Lloyd and Kay were fortunate enough to have each other for nearly 67 years.

Together they raised four children: Douglas Lloyd (1957), Gregory Allen (1958), JoDee Ray (1960) and Kristi Lynn (1962). Kay worked for the Cap Factory in Mount Ayr for 10 years. As Lloyd’s work transferred him to Red Oak, Iowa in 1977, she then worked at the Thomas D. Murphy Calendar Company for 5 years. In 1982, they retired to their hometown of Mount Ayr. This is when Kay started doing in-home daycare, beginning with her first-born granddaughter, Chandra and Ava Jolene Frost, her cousin. Over her 21 year career, she had over 100 children attend “Grandma Kay’s” who became more like family. Many former daycare kids invited her to graduations, weddings, and to celebrate them becoming parents.

Kay and Lloyd decided to downsize in 2004. They sold their Mount Ayr home and relocated to Cecil and Lois’s acreage in Tingley. They spent 22 years wintering in Texas, enjoying retirement and making new friends.

Grandma Kay was the sweetest, kindest soul anyone would ever meet. She was talented in sewing, quilting, embroidery and was known for her pumpkin bars, banana bread, and spaghetti and meatballs. She gave the best hugs and provided encouragement to all.

Kay is survived by her husband of nearly 67 years; Lloyd, children and grandchildren; Doug (Valerie), children; Dustin, Amber, and Adam, Greg (Diane) children; Chandra and Chanelle, Joe (Nancy) children; Laura, Erin, Dan, Anna, and Andrew, and Kristi (Terry) children; Leslie, Danelle, Trisha, and Trenton, 42 great grandchildren, and 2 great-great grandchildren, sister; Lois Ann Sobotka, and brother-in-law Tom (Barb) Drake, and many nieces and nephews.

Kay was preceded in death by her parents; Cecil and Lois Allen, parents-in-law; Loren Russel and Velma Drake, brother; Willis “Turk” Allen, brothers-in-law; Dave Sobotka and Harold Drake, and sister in-law Juanita (Donald) Clouse.

Rest in Peace Grandma Kay, until we meet again. Fly high with those angel wings, you were certainly an angel here on Earth.