Virginia (Carver) Drake Obituary

Beloved mother and grandmother, Virginia “Ginny” Ann Carver Drake, age 90, of Mountain Home, Arkansas, peacefully passed away Sunday, June 1, 2025, in the home of her eldest daughter.

Born September 27, 1934, in Phoenix, Arizona, to Howard Carver and Arnita Talman (Burden), she always retained a deep love of the desert and returned to the area whenever she could. She and her brother, Jim, affectionately known as “Bub,” maintained a close relationship all their lives, and she often referred to him as her lifelong soul mate.

On November 10, 1956, she married Dean Edward Drake; they were married for 57 years until his passing. They moved to Mountain Home, Arkansas, in 1970, where Dean’s brother David and wife Bettye had previously relocated, and together the sisters-in-law became fast friends and enjoyed raising their many children together. Virginia worked as Program Director for over two decades at the Ozark Community Home in Mtn. Home, finding great meaning in her work and relationships there, and volunteering as a Coach for Special Olympics throughout that time. She converted to Catholicism as a teen and was a member of St. Peter the Fisherman Catholic Church in Mtn. Home.

She was a woman of many passions: she loved gardening, maintaining beautiful flower gardens and filling the family home with plants of all kinds. An avid baker, she was known about town as the “Cookie Lady” in reference to the100+ varieties of homemade cookies she often brought to Hospice House and to family and friends throughout the year. She loved to travel, especially with her children, and visited Russia, Canada, New England, California, and almost all of the National Parks. To her grandchildren, her home was synonymous with Christmastime, where they shared many memories of staircase photographs, gingerbread house destructions, and movie nights by the fireplace and 12 foot tall, elaborately decorated Christmas trees.

Virginia was preceded in death by her parents, Howard Carver and Arnita Talman; brother, Bub Carver; husband, Dean Drake; son, Danny Drake; and daughters, Julie and Carrie Drake. She is survived by a sister, Vickie Cole of California; three daughters, Denise Pearson-Bethea (Bill) of Conway, Lisa Wicker (Tim) of Fayetteville, and Jennifer Drake (Nancy Spratt) of Boston, Massachusetts; ten grandchildren, Steven Drake (Bethany), Derrek Pearson (Carmen Holt), Tyler Pearson (Melissa), Blake Pearson (Lili), Hannah Pearson, Spencer Pearson, Sarah Tarleton (Adam), Caleb Wicker (Aly), Rachel Gentry (Charles), Tessa Babbitt (Colton); and nineteen great-grandchildren, Hayden Drake, Ethan Drake, Juniper Holt, Iris Pearson, Athena Pearson, Eve Pearson, Yuri Pearson, Valen Pearson, Maya Ottenheimer, Luc Tarleton, Virginia Tarleton, James Tarleton, Emily Tarleton, Laura Wicker, Lottie Wicker, Benjamin Gentry, Jack Gentry, Leo Babbitt, and Wendy Babbitt.

Arrangements are private. 

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Hospice Home Care Inc of Conway, 821 N Creek Dr A, Conway, AR, 72032.

Arrangements by Arkansas Cremation, 10515 W Markham St, Suite B1, Little Rock, Arkansas 72205.If you would like to leave a message of condolence to the family, you may do so using the Guestbook section.

www.arkansascremation.com