Patricia J. Draves

Patricia "Patty" Draves, age 74, passed away on Sunday, April 29, 2012, at Golden Heights, with her family by her side in Garnett, Kansas. She was born September 13, 1937, in Kansas City, Kansas, the daughter of Herman and Edna Fay (Harbison) Simpson. Pat's mother later married Wilbur A. Gartin who loved and raised Patty as his own daughter. As a child, Patty enjoyed summers on the farm in Eldon, Missouri, with her grandfather and her step-grandmother Ed and Mamie Harbison, where she found her joy of cooking and learned to play the violin. She attended Wyandotte High School until 1953. She then met and married John "Jack" Draves and was blessed by five children. Pat Draves was a homemaker while her husband was an engineer for the Union Pacific Railroad. She later worked as a waitress and an assembly worker at Electro-Dynamics. They later moved to Garnett in 1991, purchasing a small farm. Pat was a caregiver to many Garnett residents. Pat became the secretary for the Anderson County Sheriff Department and retired in 2005. A job she was proud of and loved very much. Pat was an active member of the First Christian Church of Garnett, where she sang in the choir and taught Sunday School and Vacation Bible School. She was a chaperone for Youth in Action where she witnessed many children accept Christ as their Savior. Pat was a wonderful cook and served many of the church dinners, helping out in any way that she could. Pat devoted much of her time and energy as a caregiver to family members, including her mother until she passed away at age 83. She loved her family very much. Pat is survived by her two daughters and their spouses, Cheryl and Jim Dunkin of Garnett, Kanas; Jeri and William Allred of Kansas City, Kansas; her son, John Draves of Freeman, Missouri; and her two sons and their partners, Kevin Draves and Ken Davis of New York, New York; Steven Draves and Jennifer Michael of Holden, Missouri; 12 grandchildren (Twins on the way); and 12 great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 P.M., on Thursday, May 3, 2012, at the First Christian Church, Garnett. Burial will follow in the Garnett Cemetery. The family will be present to greet friends from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday evening at the First Christian Church. Memorial contributions may be made to Ronald McDonald House and may be left in care of the funeral home.