A woman of compassion, open-mindedness, a love for nature: beloved mother of Pamelah Stephens of San Jose, Keith Stokes, deceased, Kelly Garcia of San Martin, son-in-law Ted Garcia and step-son Don A. Drake, wife Gail. She is the beloved wife of Donald Drake of Gilroy for 37 years. She passed away peacefully on May 25, 2010. She took great pride in her family and her volunteer work in California State Parks. She was proud to be a fourth generation California native with a family that had always been involved in preserving and caring for nature and working with local and State politics.
She was born in Sacramento, CA, to Palmer Wesley Foster and Shirley Hill Foster. She grew up in Woodland, San Carlos, and Chico, CA. She graduated from University of Berkeley where she received her Baccalaureate degree in Journalism in 1951. While at UC Berkeley she was a member of the Prytanean Honor Society and associate editor of the Blue and Gold. In 1951 she went to work in the editorial department of the San Jose Mercury and News. She married Arthur Stokes, City Editor of the News, in 1953, they divorced in 1965. She left her job to have her children and returned to the newspaper in 1964, working as a columnist and department editor. She retired in 1991; however, she continued her food column for several years after that.
She married Don Drake in 1973 and the couple moved to San Martin to indulge in their love for horses. Together they were very active in the San Martin Horseman’s Association where both served terms as president of the club. She was a founding member of the Henry W. Coe State Park Mounted Assistance Unit and also served with the Santa Clara County volunteer Horse Patrol organization. She completed over 3,000 hours of volunteer service for the parks. She also worked with the advisory committee for the Juan Bautista De Anza National Historical Trail starting with the re-enactment of the trail to celebrate the bicentennial ceremonies commemorating De Anza bringing the first settlers to San Francisco and San Jose over the trail in 1776.
She will always be remembered, honored by, and loved by those who have survived her: Don Drake, husband; children: Pamelah Stephens; Kelly Garcia; Don Drake step-son; her grandchildren Tosanna Alayaay and Justin Stephens; Shanna Garcia and Travis Garcia; Amanda Stokes Peacock, Sean Drake; Monica Johnson and 11 great-grandchildren and 2 great-great- grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her son Keith Stokes and granddaughter Alicia Barron. A memorial service will take place on Saturday, May 29, 2010, at 11:00 A.M. at Johnson Funeral Home, 17720 Monterey Street in Morgan Hill, CA
