Julie A. Drake

Julie A. Drake, 63, of Westville, passed away unexpectedly August 23, 2021, at Northwest Health-Porter in Valparaiso. She was born on May 9, 1958, to James and Carolyn (Coulter) Robertson in Frankfort. She married James L. Drake Jr. on May 17, 1986, in Frankfort; he survives.

Julie lived all over Indiana, starting as a kid in Frankfort and graduating from Frankfort High School. She then furthered her education at Purdue University in Lafayette where she obtained a bachelor’s degree in management, and also where she met James while working at Northside Music. She also worked at Bell Parts Supply for six years. She and James then moved to Bloomington where she was a store manager of Barnes and Noble for ten years.

After Bloomington, she and James made the move to Westville where she became a housewife, but more importantly a full-time volunteer and board member for 12 years at the Midwest Beagle Rescue, Education, and Welfare organization. Through her volunteering, she fostered over 40 beagles through her own home until they could find a forever home of their own. When she and her daughter were not volunteering for the beagle rescue, they enjoyed frequent mother-daughter trips to Walt Disney World, creating many fond memories together. As a family, they enjoyed vacationing to The Outer Banks in North Carolina.

Surviving with her husband, James, is her daughter, Erin Drake: mother, Carolyn; brother, Jim (wife, Judy) Robertson of Frankfort; sister, Jenny (husband, Doug) Slavens of Wingate; and surviving at home are her two beagles, Kirby and Buttons.  

She is preceded in death by her father, James Robertson.

A Celebration of Life gathering, in remembrance of Julie, will be held from 1:00pm until 4:00pm (EST), on Saturday, August 28, 2021, at Genda Funeral Homes, 608 N. Main St., Frankfort, Indiana, 46041.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial contributions in Julie’s honor be made to the Midwest Beagle Rescue, Education, and Welfare organization, online at www.gotbeagles.org, or to Midwest BREW, PO Box 498, Wadsworth, IL, 60083. Envelopes will also be available at the funeral home.

Genda Funeral Homes of Frankfort is honored to serve the Drake Family.