Daniel Drake

Dan Drake of Westwood, Kansas, passed away Thursday, January 19, 2012, at age 72 after a long illness.

He is preceded in death by his parents F.O. & Mary Drake of Hannibal; his sister Erma Lee Robinson of Jefferson City and brother Frank Drake Jr. of Jefferson City.

He is survived by longtime companion Rebecca Rowland; and three children, Amy Rote of Prairie Village, Jeff Drake of Los Angeles, California, and Elizabeth Hunt of Shawnee. Dan also had five grandchildren that he was crazy about, Joe and Erin Pearce, Caitlin and Sarah Hunt, and Milo Drake.

Dan was born in Hannibal, Missouri in 1939 and graduated from the University of Missouri in 1962 with a degree in Journalism. In 1965, Dan took a job with Hallmark Cards in Kansas City, where he worked for the next 30 years. In his retirement, Dan was a founding member of both the Heroes of Golf Society (or HOGS) and the Golf Club Investment Club (GCIC), which might lead one to believe he was an avid golfer. But Dan's friends were probably bigger fans of golf than Dan, who more enjoyed the travel and camaraderie that went along with it.

Dan was a lifelong Mizzou fan but complained very little when two of his children and two of his grandchildren ended up attending KU. The fact that surrounding himself with family meant surrounding himself with Jayhawks fans was a fact that Dan endured with great dignity.

Dan will most be remembered for his wit and intelligence. He loved nothing more than a good laugh. Most who knew him would agree that memories of Dan are memories filled with laughter. He leaves behind a loving family and a long list of close friends, all of whom will miss him dearly.

Visitation will be from 3-6 p.m., Friday, January 27, 2012, at the Amos Family Chapel of Shawnee. There will be a visitation from 1:00-2:00 p.m., Saturday, January 28, 2012 at the Greening Eagan Hayes Funeral Home, 401 S. Center Street, Shelbina, Missouri 63468. Following the Shelbina visitation, the burial will be at the Looney Creek Cemetery, near Shelbyville, Missouri. There will be an informal Celebration of Dan’s Life hosted by his friends from noon-3, Sunday, January 29, 2012, at Sutera’s, 4730 Rainbow, Westwood, KS 66205.

Memorial donations can be made to the Kansas City Hospice House, 12000 Wornall Road, Kansas City, Missouri 64145.