Loved Ones Leading the Way

April was a month we spent traveling and most importantly being with family.  It is really amazing to think back and reflect on someones life.  Can they ever really know the impact they had on their family, neighbors, friends,? and acquaintances? We have had a month filled with reflection, tears, great stories, laughter, and loved ones.


Dan's Grampy Russel Neville passed away the end of March so we made the drive to Prescott Valley, AZ to honor him.  I had only met Grampy twice before this but both times I felt loved and accepted.  Unfortunately, because of the distance Dan wasn't able to see his grandparents as often as he desired. Family Christmas parties and the occasional pilgrimage back to 'The Holy Land' as Dan likes to call Arizona.  When Dan was young his Grandmother gave him a Phoenix Suns hat and he has been a faithful fanatic ever since. I think it is his way to respect where he came from and if he couldn't be around his extended family perhaps he could at least have something that reminded him of them. Dan's grandpa lost his wife of 65 years Mary Jane Neville last September and Grampy just decided it was time to join her. No doubt she had something for him to do. Last year Dan was happy to take an evening off from a chaplains conference he was attending in Scottsdale. He was very touched by the devotion Grampy had sitting and holding his beloved wife's hand while her health began failing. The late stages of dementia and the hurtful insults and claims made by her had no effect on her faithful companion and grampy was exemplary in how he loved his wife through his example even to her last breaths. Dan remarked that this was the first time he had ever known a man who endured faithfully to the end.  Both Granny and Grampy will be greatly missed but they will always live on through their children, grandchildren, and great grand children.

Russell Wesley Neville, loving husband, father, grampy and great grampy, 

passed away March 28, 2011. Russell was a tool and die maker 

in Phoenix until he retired in 1987 to Prescott Valley, Ariz. 

He was born in Alliance, Ohio, Nov. 7, 1924. The greatest secular achievement of his life
was when he was awarded the silver beaver award from the boy scouts of america.
truly he was a man who was: trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, curtious, kind, obedient, thrifty, cheerful, brave, clean , and reverent. 

He was preceded in death by his wife of 65 years, Mary, just 

six months ago. Two sisters also preceded him in death. 

He leaves behind seven children, Bryan (Barbara) of West Jordan, 

Utah, Clyde (Linda) of Prescott Valley, David (Elois) of Phoenix, 

Judy (Dave) of Prescott Valley, Zona (Floyd) of Mayer, Ariz., Rebecca (Gary) 

of Prescott Valley and Marijane (Richard) of Prescott Valley; 

22 grandchildren and 31 great grandchildren. 

Just a few short weeks following Grampy Neville's passing my Grandpa Howard Drake passed away.  It was a really difficult thing for me because this is the first of my Grandparents to pass.  I still get teary eyed thinking about all the good times I had with him and all the things my kids will miss out on by not knowing him.  I know that people can live on through us; it's hard to picture anyone else filling the big boots left behind. Grandpa was a one of a kind... a character who was great at getting a laugh and a smile out of people. He had a story for everything. I never needed fairy tales because his life was right out of a story book. He was not a knight in shining armor but no cowboy was ever more true to his roots and faithful to the core than he was. I was fortunate to be able to visit Grandpa pretty regularly.  Growing up almost every Sunday afternoon we headed out to Dixie Downs or Central to visit Grandpa and Grandma.  Grandpa was an outdoors man.  He also was a pretty good athlete.  Basketball was his preferred game and he even played against the Harlem Globetrotters years ago when my dad was a young boy at the old Dixie College Gym.  He was also a great gardener.  Growing up I remember driving up to Central and heading out to the garden to pick some veggies.  He even had a vegetable stand set up with a scale, a price list and a sign that said 'pay hear'.  Grandpa was one of the last of a dieing breed called Cowboys.  Even when he could no longer ride a horse he still needed a horse out in the pasture, and a tractor to putter around on.  He will be greatly missed by his family.  I'm sure he is sitting on the front porch of heaven enjoying the beautiful scenery and waiting for Grandma to come help him figure out how to open the Damn Gate!

Howard Drake achieved 87 years as a loving husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather before passing away peacefully on April 19, 2011, in Las Vegas, Nevada. He was born April 28, 1923, in Alamo, Nevada, the 4th of 13 children, to Thomas and Cecil Alger Drake. Howard married his lovely wife, Betty Lytle on December 8, 1943. Howard spent his early years with his family in Alamo and Pioche, Nevada. His later years were spent in Enterprise, where he attended school and played basketball.

Howard has always loved horses and the cowboy way of life, which he passed onto his children and grandchildren. He was western through and through. Howard worked as a wrangler on many movies which were made here in southern Utah and enjoyed meeting great cowboy stars. He was a mans man, tough, determined and strong willed. Howard has always had a love for the outdoors. He loved sports, fishing and hunting. His gardening talents were enjoyed by everyone.

Howard is survived by his wife, Betty Drake of Central; sons, Doug (Helen) Drake of St. George, Tom Drake of St. George, Denny (Dawna) Drake of Santa Clara and Jeff (Erdine) Drake of Veyo; daughter, Jackie (Clint) Hardman of Central; 17 grandchildren and 42 great-grandchildren; and sister, ReVoe (Darwin) Hulet of New Castle. He is preceded in death by his parents, great-grandson, Chantz Drake, and 11 brothers and sisters