Nelma Laverne Drake

DRAKE — Nelma Laverne, 89; born Aug. 26, 1924, Felt, Idaho; died May 13, 2014, Twin Falls, Idaho. Surviving: husband, Harold A.; son, Richard Drake, Twin Falls; daughter, Cheryl Knowles, Bozeman, Mont.; 5 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren.

Nelma Laverne Drake passed away in her own home at Woodstone Assisted Living. Nelma was born the daughter of the late Cloay and Joe Akins in the Teton Basin of Felt, Idaho. Graduated from Gem State Adventist Academy in 1943 and Walla Walla College with a BA in English in 1948. After knowing Harold Arthur Drake since she was in the fourth grade, she married him in 1947.

Nelma was described by her great-niece as the “strong boss mare of our family.” Headstrong, business savvy and fascinated by our world. Nelma taught English and Harold taught Biology at Southern Adventist University in Keene, Texas, from 1949–53 and at Atlantic Union College from 1954–57. Then traveled to Southern Rhodesia, Africa (now Zimbabwe) in 1957 to teach and raise their two children. 

Early in her career, Nelma served as circulation manager for the Naturalist magazine, and in college she was social vice-president of the Student Association. Nelma and Harold built Heritage Assisted Living and Memory Care in Twin Falls in 1968 and then in Boise and Nampa, Idaho in 1972. 

Harold and Nelma were Marriage Enrichment Facilitators and they traveled the globe conducting seminars to build up the family home. 

Her passion for Idaho landscape, Texas wildflowers and English literature lead her to paint and capture rugged landscapes and to yearly attend the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. She passed along the love of art and culture to her family, and saw to it that all her children and grandchildren made it through college, educated, and prepared to face the world. Dedicated to Christian education at Walla Walla University, she donated time and money and was on the Committee of 500 and Walla Walla University Board. She also served on the executive board of the Idaho Conference.

Nelma is survived by her loving husband of 67 years, Harold Arthur Drake, age 88, along with two children, Cheryl Knowles and Richard Drake; and 5 grandchildren, Nathan Knowles of Boise, Idaho; Ben Knowles of Twin Falls, Idaho; Richard Drake II of Touchet, Wash.; Reginald Drake of Twin Falls, Idaho; Jenilyn Drake of Tacoma, Wash.; and by her loving sister, LaJean Botimer of Nampa, Idaho; she is also survived by 6 great-grandchildren.