Irma Gene Drake

Irma Gene (Butler) Drake, 97 of Star City, passed from this life to heaven on April 25. She was born on February 2, 1924, in Star City to Alvin Ezra Butler and Emma Lee (Donaldson) Butler. She was the youngest of 8 children with 3 brothers, C.L., Troy, and B.F., and 4 sisters, Ethel, Ella Mae, Mildred, and Hazel. She attended Star City School and married Charles Louis Drake, also of Star City, on June 5, 1943. Charles passed away on February 10, 1977. Gene worked at the Star City School cafeteria from 1959 until her retirement in 1991. She was a member of Southside Missionary Baptist Church in Star City. Survivors include her daughter, Donna Collins, and her husband, Rickey, of Star City; grandchildren, Jennifer Turnbow of Bossier City, La., and Justin Collins and wife, Jennifer, of Sheridan; 4 great-grandchildren, Peyton Turnbow, Emma Turnbow, Knox Collins, and Landry Collins. Visitation will be Tuesday, April 27, from 6-8 p.m., and funeral services will be Wednesday, April 28 at 2 p.m., both at Griffin Funeral Service in Star City. Burial will follow at Leek Cemetery. One of Gene's favorite things to do was to call people that she knew on their birthday or anniversary and wish them a happy birthday or happy anniversary. Gene's family would like to encourage anyone that she ever called, to follow her example. Call (Don't text!) someone on their birthday or anniversary and wish them a happy day. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Southside Missionary Baptist Church, PO Box 545, Star City, AR 71667. Arrangements by Griffin Funeral Service in Star City. Online guestbook at www.griffinfuneralservice.net.