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Bill Drake, 65 year old Woodward County resident died Monday, September 21, 2015. A memorial service will be held at 2:00 pm Thursday, September 24, 2015 in the Fort Supply Gymnasium with Reverend Jim Steenbergen officiating. A private family interment will take place at a later date. Services are under the direction of the Billings Funeral Home.
Billy Dean Drake was born in Woodward, Oklahoma on April 29, 1950 to Wilbur Paul and Zella Mae (Benger) Drake. Bill was reared in Fort Supply, Oklahoma and attended Ft. Supply Schools. While attending high school he was active in FFA, baseball, and basketball. He excelled at basketball, which was his favorite sport. Bill was named to the Oklahoma All State Team in 1968. One of his highlights during high school was scoring 52 points during a game at Buffalo, this was before the three point line was introduced. After high school he attended Northwestern Oklahoma State University on a basketball scholarship. His love for the sport didn't stop there, he continued to play adult league games into his 40's and was always a force to be dealt with. Bill passed his love of basketball on to his sons and grandchildren. While attending college he joined the Armed Forces National Guard and served his term at Alva. Bill made many friends while in Alva, working for the Bouziden Ranch and also the XIT Ranch. While working on the ranches, he developed a passion for team roping and again excelled at another sport. Winning numerous buckles and saddles, he continued to rope until the last couple years.
In 1974, Bill went to work for the family business, Drake Construction. He also workeOKd for Smitty's Welding Service. After a short time in Florida, Bill returned to the Oklahoma panhandle to start a business RB&J Material, LLC., with his brother Bob. They were boys playing with there trucks and hauling dirt.
Bill was an avid sports enthusiast and enjoyed many different activities. While his boys were growing up they spent numerous hours tracking and hunting deer, quail, or whatever moved. One of his hunting highlights was going to Colorado, hunting and camping in the mountains. During the spring and summer you could find Bill and his boys out on the lakes fishing. Bill loved to water ski and taught many nieces, nephews, and friends the enjoyment of being on the lake. A member of the family once made the comment that Bill was good at whatever he tried welding, farming, roping, etc... At one time the family owned and operated Big D's Country Store, where Bill became a very good cook. He enjoyed grilling and smoking meats his speciality being barbequed chicken.
Bill's family and the Boyd Hughes family hosted team ropings for 17 years. Ropers from Texas, Kansas and Oklahoma and other states would come to attended the event. Many hours were spent in the arena. Both of his boys followed in his footsteps roping as a family.
Bill is survived by two sons, Cole Sutherland Drake and wife Angie of Shamrock, Texas; Dane Roy Drake and wife Barby of Gate; four grandchildren, Traylen Glenn; Peyton Chad; Logen Ty; Gracin Ruth; Cindy Roper with whom he spent the last years of his life with at his home west of Woodward; and her children, Randy; Melissa; Jennifer and J.R. and grandchildren, Shenae; Jerret; Payton; Laramie; Stetson; and Jalynn; nieces, nephews, other family and numerous friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, sister, Barbara and brother Robert L. (Bob) Drake.
In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to Fort Supply Grade School and Jr. High Basketball programs with the funeral home accepting the contributions.
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