Nancy Patricia Drake, age 57, died peacefully July 2, 2015, at her home in Richmond, Texas, after a brief struggle with cancer.



Nancy was born March 19, 1958, in Laurium, Michigan, the daughter of John H. Hilden, Sr. and Phyllis L. Winquist. She attended Calumet and White Pine High Schools, graduating in 1976. She completed her nursing degree on scholarship at Michigan Technological University in 1978. In 1979, she married Martin Drake, and the newlyweds moved to Fort Bend County shortly thereafter.



Nancy was first employed at Polly Ryon Memorial Hospital in Richmond, where she worked for five years as an ER nurse, but eventually found her home at the Fort Bend County Health Department, serving Fort Bend County residents as a public health nurse for 29 years. Over the course of her career she participated in the growth of a rural, one-building combined environmental health and nursing department to a multi-location Clinical Health Services department of which she has been the sole director. Her first big trial in epidemic control came during the 1989 Measles outbreak in Fort Bend County and Texas. She would continue to supervise subsequent outbreaks and emergencies, often risking her own health and safety. She served on many committees, task forces, panels, coalitions, and commissions focusing on the amelioration of various public health issues. Nancy handled her responsibilities with professionalism, fortitude, dedication and skill. During her tenure, grants became a major source of funding and a driver for new programming and staffing. The department offers immunization through the Texas Vaccines for Children program, tuberculosis prevention and control, sexually transmitted disease testing and treatment, HIV testing and counseling as well as monitoring and protecting the health of Fort Bend residents through communicable disease surveillance.



As the department grew, reorganized and added programs, Nancy always demonstrated a clear understanding and dedication to the principles of public health. Each program was designed with the goals of understanding disease processes and ensuring that good information and best practices would prevent further illness. Whenever new regulations, guidance or practice challenged the department, Nancy greeted each as opportunities with grace and good-natured humor. The department knew she was ready to move forward when they heard her trademark, "Oh, well!"



In her free time Nancy enjoyed cooking, traveling, gardening, reading, shopping, and spending time with her family, pets, and friends. She also enjoyed frequent trips to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, where she grew up, visiting her family's summer cottage and a host of family and friends.



Nancy was preceded in death by her parents and husband, and is survived by son Clinton Drake of Houston, Texas; companion Robert Lauderdale of Richmond, Texas; uncle Reino Hilden of Thousand Oaks, California; brother John (Teri) Hilden of Lino Lakes, Minnesota; brother Andrew Hilden of Kearsarge, Michigan; nephew Erik Hilden; niece Megan Hilden; dog Maggie; cat Heikki; and a number of relatives and close friends. The family wishes to thank all of those who have shared their love and support throughout the course of Nancy's illness, particularly her colleagues from Fort Bend County Health and Human Services. She will be remembered with love and kindness by all that knew her, and her long, productive career will live on as her legacy to the community.



As an expression of sympathy, memorial contributions can be made to the Nancy Drake Professional Development Fund, which will provide opportunities for public health staff to expand the knowledge and skills used to serve the dynamic public health needs of Fort Bend County. Nancy Drake Professional Development Fund, care of Fort Bend County Clinical Health Services, 4520 Reading Rd, Ste. A, Rosenberg, Texas, 77471.



Services will be held at 11 AM, July 11th, 2015 at Garmany and Carden Funeral Directors Chapel, 1201 4th Street, Rosenberg, Texas 77471, with a reception to follow from 12-2 PM at the Fort Bend County Rosenberg Annex: 4520 Reading Road, Rosenberg, TX 77471.



Condolence messages may be written for the Drake family at www.garmanycarden.com.



Services are under the direction of Garmany & Carden Funeral Directors, 1201 Fourth Street, Rosenberg, TX 77471 (281)342-4671.