Jack Lane Drake

JACK LANE DRAKE
September 21, 1938 - January 2, 2020

“Cousin Jack” was born in Oklahoma City on September 21, 1938 and died unexpectedly in Norman, Oklahoma on January 2, 2020. He was the son of Wilbur Seville Drake and Josie Lane Drake who predecease him. He grew up in Oklahoma City, OK and Jackson, MS, later moving to Dallas, TX with a short stint in Austin, TX. He attended the University of Oklahoma where he was a member the Alpha Sigma Phi fraternity (Alpha Alpha chapter) and the Air Force ROTC. He later served an enlistment in the Air National Guard of Texas (1960-6). As a young man, he was married to Jimmie Dale Stayton for a short time. He joined Blue Cross and Blue Shield in 1962 where he worked for 40 years, retiring in 2002. He promoted electronic claims filing for Texas hospitals and for End Stage Renal Disease facilities in Texas and neighboring states. At the time of his retirement he worked in Provider Automation where he had provided leadership in the program’s development and training. Upon retirement, he moved to Norman, OK. He especially traveled Texas a lot for his job and loved the Texas Hill Country and blue bonnets. He knew all the good eating spots.

Jack was a man of great devotion and loyalty, an old-school, dapper gentleman. He was handsome, could talk with anyone, and was interested in others. He took care of people, stayed connected and helped with life’s “rough spots”. As a beloved son and nephew, he provided loving care to his parents and bachelor Uncle Bob which later extended to Big Ed and to Rayburn. He had deep lasting memories of “life on the farm” with Aunt Amy and Uncle Raymon: Aunt Amy’s gravy and fried chicken, learning to drive a tractor, tornado warnings, and Eva Jean and Rayburn’s influence on his life.

He greatly valued family and friends. Jack, Aunt Josie, and Uncle Wilbur annually hosted and entertained the visiting crowd of Okies for the OU-Texas weekends in Dallas. It was the stuff of legends. He loved OU football, football, “Wednesday Lunches with Big Ed’s Kids”, his Norman “coffee group”, family get-togethers, (especially Aileen’s Thanksgivings), ducks, visiting friends, turquoise jewelry, steak, 2 fingers of scotch in the evening, Ed Burnet’s jazz band at the Levee, traveling with family, butter beans, genealogy, Tom and Jerry, and good books. And he gave the funnest gifts. In the next life, he wants to meet Hedy Lamarr.

Jack had a warm, expansive family who enjoys good food, sports, conversation, laughter, and being together. An only child, he leaves behind a cadre of loving friends (with great Jack stories) and many cousins including close cousins who were like siblings: John E. “Eddie” Norlin, Diana Norlin Arnold, David D. Norlin, and Raynelle Teeter Rose, and their families including godchild Lydia Li-ying Norlin, and Mary and Hal Olinger. His dear friends Larry Anderson and John Plaster were especially important to him in his later years.

Following cremation, a memorial service will be held on Saturday, January 11, at 10:00 at Calvary Temple Church in Cyril, OK, where he was a member and regularly attended. Interment will be at 2:00 in the Anadarko Cemetery next to his parents. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Calvary Temple Church.

Online condolences can be made to the family at www.crewsfh.com.

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