Eva Inez Drake

Eva Inez Drake, descendant of Texas pioneers, died Saturday morning, July 12, 2014, in Gatesville. Funeral services will be held at Scott’s Funeral Home in Gatesville at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, July 14. Burial will follow at Restland Cemetery. Visitation will be held Sunday, July 13, at Scott’s Funeral Home from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. Inez was born on Dec. 22, 1916, in Hamlin, Texas, to the late A.T. Rogers and the late Natalie Nettie McElroy Rogers. She came to Coryell County with her family when she was three months old. The family loaded all their possessions on a train for the journey from Hamlin to Gatesville. Inez was the great- great granddaughter of the first person buried in the town cemetery in Gatesville, and was very proud of her Texas heritage. She was believed to be the oldest member at First Baptist Church in Gatesville at the time of her passing, and was a continuous member of that church for 87 years. She was united in marriage to Floyd Carl Drake on May 13, 1939. He preceded her in death on Nov. 30, 2001. During the war years, Inez worked as a telephone operator for the Gulf States Telephone Company in Gatesville. She retired from that company with 35 years of service. Inez was a very active member of the Home Front during World War II. While Carl served in Europe and The Philippines as a combat engineer, Inez and her co-workers often pooled their ration cards to buy sugar and flour, then baked cakes for soldiers who came to the Gatesville USO. She was preceded in death by brother; Weldon Rogers, and sisters; Vonna Hestilow and Milda Hibits. She is survived by two daughters, Diane Drake Herridge and husband Bill, and Suzanne Drake Vroman and husband, Randy, all of Gatesville. She is also survived by four grandchildren, Jeff Herridge of Austin, Jessica Cole of Gatesville, Janna Morgan of Waco and Shane Williamson of Gatesville. She is also survived by four great grandchildren, Brantley and Bryce Cole, Evan Herridge and Peyton Williamson. She is also survived by a sister Neta Floyd and brother-in-law Dr. William F. Floyd. Pallbearers will be Jeff Herridge, Shane Williamson, Randy Cole, Kevin Morgan, Brantley Cole and Bryce Cole.