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Judith Kay Drake

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judith drake

MAY 23, 1941 – OCTOBER 12, 2021

Judith (Judy) Kay Drake, age 80, passed away on October 12, 2021. She was born Judith Kay Beadleston on May 23, 1941, in Decatur, Illinois to Robert and Maxine Beadleston. Judy grew up in Oreana, Illinois and graduated from Argenta-Oreana High School in 1959. She later moved to Loveland, Colorado.

Judy met Larry, the love of her life, and they married on October 7, 1989.

Judy worked 10 years for the Fort Collins/Loveland Water District, 6 years as an office supervisor at City of Fort Collins Building Inspection, and 20 years at the Colorado State University (CSU) Graduate School. While at CSU, Judy held the position of an international credential evaluator. She retired from CSU in 2001. She attended Front Range Community College in Business Management and obtained the State Supervisor’s Certificate from CSU. At CSU, she sat on the State Classified Personnel Counsel from 1990-1992, serving as its president from 1991-1992. Judy was a member of several committees including Parking Management, Governor’s Award Selection, the President’s Committee for Women’s Rights and was a volunteer reader for the Disabled Student’s office. She also presented at several NAFSA Region II International Student conferences.

Judy enjoyed helping international students get admitted to CSU’s Graduate School and working with them throughout their academic careers. Her level of involvement extended beyond regular working hours as she and Larry offered up their home to have students come live with them. The students’ fondness for her was returned and is evident, in part, by her elephant figurine collection, many of which came to her as gifts from these special students from around the world. She was able to cap their graduate careers by reading their names at graduation.

After retirement she loved traveling with her husband Larry. A couple of their favorite trips were to Alaska and Australia. Over a period of years, winter months were spent between Waikoloa, Hawaii and Kerrville, Texas. While in Kerrville, Judy was a member of Gates of the City Christian Fellowship.

Judy was always so proud of her children and grandchildren and loved being with them. She was known for putting together annual picture collages of her family to share with others. Judy will also be remembered for regularly attending her water aerobics class at Chilson Recreation Center; her love of swimming in the ocean, laying on the beach, listening to music, bright colors, sunny skies and happy people; her cooking; her competitive nature during numerous activities like ping-pong, bowling, and board games, especially cribbage.

Judy was preceded in death by daughter Marcy McConkey, brother Robert Dean Beadleston, and her parents Robert and Maxine Beadleston. Judy is survived by her husband Larry Drake and two sons David McConkey (Janet) of San Antonio, Texas, and Jeffrey D. McConkey (Dawn) of Greeley, Colorado (from her first marriage to Jeffrey W. McConkey); three grandsons Caleb Brown of Kerrville, Robert McConkey of San Antonio, and Jakib McConkey (Kimberlie) of Kersey, Colorado; great grandson Logan McConkey.

Judy is also survived by three step-children Michelle Barfoot (Lee) of Milliken, Colorado, David Drake (Susan) of Lawton, Oklahoma, and Robert Drake of Dillingham, Alaska; three step-grandchildren Anthony Barfoot (Cassie) of Milliken; MaryAnn Jones of Lewisville, Texas; Ashley Drake of Lawton; step-great grandchildren Hayden and Jaxson Jones and Skyler Barfoot.

A memorial service will be held on Monday, October 18, 2021, at 10:00 am at Resthaven Funeral Home and Memory Gardens, 8426 S. Hwy. 287, Fort Collins. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Audio Information Network of Colorado (AINC) whose volunteers read and record print materials for those who are blind, losing vision, or can’t read for a different reason. (https://aincolorado.org/donate/)