Phyllis Drake Obituary

Phyllis Gunby Drake, of Scottsdale, Arizona, passed away on Thursday, August 16, 2007, from a brain tumor. She did not suffer any pain and was surrounded by family when she died. She was born in Oakland, California in 1922, attended Fullerton High School, Fuller
ton Junior College, and graduated from the University of California, Berkeley in 2004 at the age of 82. She majored in journalism and was a member of the National Honor Society and Theta Nu Theta Sorority. In 1944, she married Charles B. Drake, and they were married for 52 years before his death in January 1997. After raising her two children, Phyllis began a very successful career in real estate, eventually owning two Century 21 real estate offices. She was the first woman president of the the Century 21 Broker's council, published a book on how to sell real estate and gave real estate advice on KTAR radio for several years. She retired in 1988. In 2002, she published a novel about her family, "A Matter of Choice". She was preceded in death by her husband Chuck in 1997, her sister Ruth Moore, and her nephew Kevin Moore. She is survived by her son, Douglas Drake, her daughter Linda Drake MacDonald, son-in-law Charles MacDonald, grandchildren Kimberly and Christopher MacDonald, nephew Terry Murphy, nephew Denny Moore, niece Phyllis Moore Quatman and her husband Jack and children Lyndsey and Jack Quatman, several great-nieces and nephews, and 'adopted' children. She was an inspiration to all of us and we will miss her laughter and wisdom. A memorial service will be held at Scottsdale United Methodist Church, 4140 N. Miller Road, Scottsdale, on Monday, August 20th at 11:00 a.m. with Pastor Dave Patterson officiating. Cremation will follow and her ashes will be scattered in the Pacific Ocean at Phyllis' request. The family requests that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the National Childhood Cancer Foundation.