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 Robert
Lee Drake
Ten days after the bombing of Pearl Harbor (Dec. 17, 1941), a son was
born to Frances and Ernest Lee Drake in Concord, N.C.
On June 8, 2009, Robert Lee Drake, 67, left this earth to join his
parents, and sister where the circle will be unbroken.
Drake had been a telephone contractor for almost forty years, working
for many different contractors through his career.
His work was his life and his adventure. He confronted it with
everything he had in him, which made him respected and remembered
everywhere he ever worked.
In 1978, while on a job for D&S Construction in Choctaw, Okla., Drake
met a plant clerk for Continental Telephone Company named Robbin.
They were married two years later in Okeechobee, Fla., while he was
working for Bill Rich, owner of Southern Installations.
Rich was the man who had lured Drake away from Lenkurt Electric for his
first contracting job in 1970.
Drake first came to the Cedar Creek Lake area in 1983 to work for
Coastal Communications.
Upon completion of that job, Virginia Beach, Va., was his next job and
destination.
The next 10 years were spent between upstate New York and Florida with a
new adventure in every new town.
In 1990, he returned to Cedar Creek Lake for some small jobs, and then
started working for Gulf Shore Tel-Com., Inc. in 1993.
He continued to work for Gulf Shore until Oct. 31, 2008, when he was
diagnosed with advanced stage lung cancer.
Being the private, humble man he was, wanted everyone to remember him as
if he has completed the job he had been given and has now moved on to
the next adventure.
He chose to be cremated and not to have a traditional funeral.
A memorial will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday, July 16, 2009.
This date would have been Robbin and Robert Drake’s 29th wedding
anniversary.
The service will be held at Trinity Full Gospel Church, 12894 CR 2139,
Seven Points, TX 75143.
Elbert Lee Kirk
Our beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, son and
brother went to be with his Lord Jesus May 9, 2009, and had many loved
ones waiting for him. We will be remembering him as the best man we have
ever known.
Funeral services for Elbert Lee Kirk, 69, Athens, were held June 13,
2009, at the new Eustace High School gymnasium to be named after E.L.
Kirk during a future dedication service.
The Revs. Edwin McDaniel and Larry Dunn officiated. Coach Chuck Powers
and school Superintendent Dr. Holcombe delivered remarks.
Interment followed at LaRue Cemetery. Masonic Rites will be held by
Eustace Masonic Lodge No. 1199 AF&AM.
Kirk died June 9, 2009, in Tyler. Funeral arrangements were under the
direction of Cooper Funeral Home of Athens.
Kirk was born Feb. 8, 1940, in Corsicana to Helen Davis and Chester Lee
Kirk. He grew up in Cayuga, graduated from Cayuga High School and
received his master’s degree from East Texas State University.
When he was a senior at Cayuga High School, he was chosen to play on the
all state basketball team.
Kirk started working for the Eustace Independent School District in
1963, was a basketball coach for 12 years and a principal for 20 years
and was presently serving as Director of Special Programs.
In September, 2008, he was honored in San Antonio at the All Star
Basketball Game.
In 2009, Kirk was honored by having the Eustace High School Gymnasium
named after him in honor of his dedication to all of his students.
He was preceded in death by his beloved mother Helen Davis Kirk, his
mother-in-law Zola Pitts, father-in-law Dalton Pitts, his nephew Glen
McDaniel and his best friend and brother-in-law Raymond McDaniel.
Survivors include his wife Linda Kirk, Athens; father Chester Lee Kirk,
Cayuga; daughter Michelle Lee Kirk, Athens; son Tommy Lee Kirk, Athens;
brother and sister-in-law, Jim and Debbie Kirk, Mobile, Ala.; brothers
and sisters-in-law; Nancy and Wayne Pitts, Athens; Loretta McDaniel,
LaRue; grandchildren Dustin Lee Kirk, Amanda Kailee Kirk, Haleigh
Elizabeth Pierce; and great-grandson Urijah Lee Ellis.
Pallbearers were Chuck Powers, James Lookabaugh, Gene Bethea, Robert
Cook, Donald Cope and Steve Junell.
Honorary pallbearers were all the students he has taught and loved in
his 46 years of service to the Eustace School District.
Shana Lee Williams
Memorial services for Shana Lee Williams, 39, Athens, were held June 12,
2009, at Grace Community Church with Shane Barnes officiating. Funeral
arrangements are entrusted to the care of the Cooper Funeral Home of
Athens.
Williams was born May 2, 1970, in Hillsboro, and died June 7, 2009.
She was preceded in death by her mother Joeda Jean Rosenbaum Hight.
She moved to this area in 1986 from Duncanville. She graduated from
Athens High School and Trinity Valley Community College. She also
attended the University of Texas at Tyler.
Survivors include her parents Wendy and Sonny Hight, Athens; grandmother
Iva Lee Rosenbaum, Milford; sons Alex Hight, Jordan Hight, Austin
Williams, Logan Hight and Dawson Hight, all of Athens; brother Jason
Hight, Athens; sisters and brothers-in-law Deborah Hight, Athens; Becky
Kendell, Ringold; Brooke and Shea Phillips, Athens; and Julie and Scott
Lowe, Magnolia; numerous aunts and uncles, nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers a memorial fund has been opened at First State Bank,
Tyler Street location, for benefit of children of Shana Hight Williams.
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