Melodee Elaine Drake

Melodee Elaine Drake, 56, passed away at St. Patrick's Hospital in Missoula on March 10, 2014. Melodee was born on April 14, 1957 in Missoula, Montana the second of three daughters born to Bud and Jackie Buss. She attended area schools, graduating from Sentinel High School in 1975 and attending college at the University of Montana.
In 1978, Melodee married Clyde Howard in Missoula, they had one child and later divorced. In 1983, Melodee married Doug Drake in Coeur d'Alene, ID, they had three children together. Melodee and her family lived in several towns around the Missoula valley, settling in Florence where she remained after her husband's death in 1992.
Melodee loved animals and always kept quite a herd of them around her home. She enjoyed raising and riding horses and was an active member of the Backcountry Horseman for quite a while. She raised goats for show at many fairs around the area and raised Dachshunds as well. Melodee was able to play various musical instruments and found a lot of enjoyment playing with the Bitterroot Community Band. She found fulfillment in her volunteer activities at various food banks in the area and at the Missoula 3:16 Rescue Mission. Melodee loved to cook and collected "all things cooking" from appliances and cookware to cook books and kitchen gadgets. Square dancing and attending church were activities that she also enjoyed.
Melodee was preceded in death by her parents: Bud and Jackie Buss, husband: Doug Drake, and granddaughter: Sierra Solum.
She is survived by her children: Tifanni (Michael) Howard-Watkins of Polson, Deven Drake-Cornell of Missoula, Derek Drake of Bonner, and Karinna (Kyle) Drake-Solum of Missoula, Grandchildren: Aurrora, Peterson, Adlerson, & Gabriella Watkins, and Joy Cornell, Sisters: Shirlee Champ (Doug) of Missoula and Shellee Buss of Ketchikan, Alaska. She is also survived by a Niece: Heather (Rick) Bronwell of Minnesota and Nephew: Mikhael Champ of Missoula.
Funeral services will be held at 10:00AM on Monday, March 17th at Garden City Funeral Home in Missoula, interment will follow at the Florence-Carlton Cemetery in Florence.
In Lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Melodee's memory to the Missoula 3:16 Rescue Mission, P.O. Box 16833, Missoula, MT 59808 or to your local food bank.

Read Melodee Drake's Obituary and Guestbook on www.missoulafuneralhomes.com.