Orris Lowell Ake
June 23, 1930 — January 13, 2016
Orris Lowell Drake was born on the family farm northwest of Griswold, Iowa, on June 23, 1930, the youngest son of Edwin and Selma (Johnson) Drake. He attended Asbury Elementary School No. 9. After moving to Walnut, Iowa in 1941, he graduated from Walnut Public Schools with the Class of 1947 at the age of sixteen.
Orris was married to Shirley Mae Macklin on April 28, 1948 and they began farming on the farm where Orris was born and grew up. They were blessed with five children: Janelle, Rhonda, Shellie, Darla, and Mark. In 1950, they purchased a farm four miles west of Griswold. In 1966, they moved back to Walnut where Orris was the administrator of Peace Haven Retirement Home for thirty years.
On June 24, 1995, Orris was united in marriage to Reva Jean Gould in Humeston, Iowa, where they made their home for two years before returning to Walnut. Though Orris began lay preaching in 1955, he began studying toward appointment as a local preacher in 1997. He graduated from the Methodist Church Lay Missions Study program in 1999. Reva Jean and Orris enjoyed the privilege of ministry to area congregations, devotions at local nursing homes, and volunteer work on the Walnut Creek Historical Society.
Orris died on Wednesday, January 13, 2016 at his home in Walnut at the age of eighty-five years, six months, and twenty-one days. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Shirley Mae, brothers Wallace, Robert, and Charles, and son-in-law Wayne Nielsen.
He is survived by his wife Reva Jean Drake of Walnut, Iowa; his children: Janelle Nielsen of West Des Moines, Iowa, Rhonda and her husband John Casey of Johnston, Iowa, Shellie Drake of Des Moines, Mark Drake and his wife Mary of Simi Valley, California, and Darla Galligan of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; two step-daughters: Tammy and her husband Mark Coffey of Austin, Minnesota and Debbie Sabanty of Camden, Maine; three grandchildren; eight step-grandchildren; great-grandchildren; other family members and many friends.
Orris was married to Shirley Mae Macklin on April 28, 1948 and they began farming on the farm where Orris was born and grew up. They were blessed with five children: Janelle, Rhonda, Shellie, Darla, and Mark. In 1950, they purchased a farm four miles west of Griswold. In 1966, they moved back to Walnut where Orris was the administrator of Peace Haven Retirement Home for thirty years.
On June 24, 1995, Orris was united in marriage to Reva Jean Gould in Humeston, Iowa, where they made their home for two years before returning to Walnut. Though Orris began lay preaching in 1955, he began studying toward appointment as a local preacher in 1997. He graduated from the Methodist Church Lay Missions Study program in 1999. Reva Jean and Orris enjoyed the privilege of ministry to area congregations, devotions at local nursing homes, and volunteer work on the Walnut Creek Historical Society.
Orris died on Wednesday, January 13, 2016 at his home in Walnut at the age of eighty-five years, six months, and twenty-one days. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Shirley Mae, brothers Wallace, Robert, and Charles, and son-in-law Wayne Nielsen.
He is survived by his wife Reva Jean Drake of Walnut, Iowa; his children: Janelle Nielsen of West Des Moines, Iowa, Rhonda and her husband John Casey of Johnston, Iowa, Shellie Drake of Des Moines, Mark Drake and his wife Mary of Simi Valley, California, and Darla Galligan of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; two step-daughters: Tammy and her husband Mark Coffey of Austin, Minnesota and Debbie Sabanty of Camden, Maine; three grandchildren; eight step-grandchildren; great-grandchildren; other family members and many friends.
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