Rita Drake
Rita Drake, 71, of Silsbee, peacefully entered her eternal home on Saturday, November 23, 2024. Born on December 16, 1952, in Joplin, Missouri, to Goldie Poteet Higgins and Brandon Higgins, Rita was a woman of boundless spirit and a heart full of love for life.
As the heart of her home, Rita created an atmosphere of open communication and unwavering support, empowering her children to pursue their dreams while always offering wisdom and encouragement. She was affectionately known as “Mom” to many, forming instant friendships that lasted a lifetime. Her home was a sanctuary filled with laughter, where she cherished every moment, often saying, “If you didn’t pee your pants, it wasn’t a good enough story.”
An avid reader, Rita found solace, joy, and adventure within the pages of a good book. She particularly enjoyed novels by John Grisham, as well as crime, spy, action, and historically accurate adventure stories. Her love for reading was only eclipsed by the joy she felt when surrounded by her family.
For over 20 years, Rita served as a Crisis Clinical Supervisor at Spindletop Center. She took pride in training counselors, instilling in her children a strong work ethic and dedication to her faith. Her mission to bring light to those in need epitomized her joyful and generous spirit, and she profoundly influenced the lives of many.
Those who knew Rita will remember her for her ability to make others smile and uplift them, even on her challenging days. Her infectious cheerfulness, overwhelming silliness, deep-rooted faith in Jesus, and unwavering commitment to spreading love and kindness left a lasting impact on everyone she encountered. Rita had a unique gift for bringing laughter and joy, often donning a red nose to brighten someone’s day.
Rita was a shining light in the lives of all who had the privilege of knowing her. Her journey on this earth was marked by love, compassion, and steadfast faith. Her passing has created a void in the hearts of her family, friends, and countless others whose lives were positively affected by her joyful demeanor. We ask that you remember her not for the way her life ended, but for the way she lived it and the profound impact she had on those around her.
Although Rita’s physical presence may no longer grace our lives, her spirit will continue to inspire and uplift us. May her memory be a blessing, and may we carry forth her legacy of laughter, love, and compassion in all that we do.
Rita is survived by her loving husband, Richard Drake, with whom she celebrated her 25th wedding anniversary just before her passing. She is also survived by her daughters, Lory Tinney, of Bella Vista, Arkansas, and Tracy Ray and her significant other, Michael Laws, of Orangefield; her son, Jerod Lea and his wife, Katie, of Silsbee; and her sister, JoAnn Six and her husband, Larry, of Joplin, Missouri; brother, Jerry Higgins and his wife, Penny, of Spokane, Washington; and grandchildren, Tyler Ray, Darryan Fino, Bryson Fino, Richard Lea, and Liam Lea.
A gathering of Mrs. Drake’s family and friends will be from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m., Saturday, November 30, 2024, at Broussard’s, 505 North 12th Street, Nederland. Her funeral service will be 3:00 p.m., Sunday, December 1, 2024, at Broussard’s. Her cremation arrangements will be handled through Broussard’s Crematorium, Beaumont.
To view the livestream service on Sunday, December 1, 2024, please click the link below:
https://www.viewlogies.net/broussards/5X3tGNIKM?pin=715568
Video
Gathering of Family and Friends
Broussard’s Mortuary Nederland
- 505, North 12th Street, Nederland, Texas, 77627,
- November 30, 2024
- 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Funeral Service
Broussard’s Mortuary Nederland
- 505, North 12th Street, Nederland, Texas, 77627,
- December 1, 2024
- 3:00 pm
Mrs. Rita will be missed by SO many! She was loved by her coworkers and touched the lives of countless people in the community. She was always the first on the dance floor and had the BEST laugh! Thank you for being a light at Spindletop Center- your legacy will live on through your teaching, words of encouragement and counseling that improved the skills and determination of those around you. Prayers for your family, friends and colleagues. Rest well, Rita.
A Tribute to my friend and Sister in CHRIST “Rita Drake”
Over the last six years, I had the incredible privilege of working with Rita Drake and learning about her life, her work, and her steadfast faith in Jesus Christ. Rita was a follower of the Lord, and her love for HIM was evident in every aspect of her life. She knew without a doubt that when her time on earth came to an end, she would be present with the Lord, as Scripture promises: “We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord” (2 Corinthians 5:8).
Rita deeply loved her family and spoke of them often with great affection. She was also fully committed to her work at Spindletop, not just as a professional, but as a spiritual supporter for her clients. Rita revealed to me that throughout her career, she prayed for her co-workers and every individual she treated. She truly believed in the power of prayer and saw her role as more than just a job… it was a calling to care for others both mentally and spiritually.
One of the most meaningful partnerships I had with Rita was in distributing New Testaments to hundreds of her clients. Rita had a deep compassion for those who found strength in their faith but lacked the financial means to own a Bible. These were special Gideon New Testaments that had a “Helps” section in the front and the “GPS” (God’s Plan of Salvation) in the back. Together, we ensured that those in need not only received the Word of God but also a cross penny, a small yet powerful reminder of their conversations with Rita, and a tangible symbol of their hope in Christ. These acts of kindness were a reflection of her unwavering faith and her desire to point others to the eternal hope found only in Jesus Christ.
Rita made me promise that if I ever had the opportunity, I would share a message to everyone on her behalf. Her heart’s desire was for her family, friends, and co-workers to come to know the saving grace of Jesus Christ so everyone would be spared from what the Bible calls hell, and so that she could see everyone again and be reunited in heaven. As John 14:2-3 reminds us, Jesus said, “In MY Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to MYSELF; that where I am, there you may be also.” This was Rita’s hope and her prayer for all of you.
In honor of Rita’s legacy, New Testaments and cross pennies, just like the ones she so lovingly gave away, will be available at the funeral for her family, friends, and co-workers. These gifts represent not only her generosity and faith but her heartfelt desire for each of you to know the peace, love, and eternal life found in Christ. As it says in Romans 10:9, “If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised HIM from the dead, you will be saved.”
May Rita’s memory inspire us to live with the same love, faith, and commitment she so beautifully demonstrated. Let us honor her by embracing the hope she held dear and by ensuring her wish of reunion in heaven is fulfilled.
I met Rita back in 1989/1990 timeframe when I was at Altus AFB, She was working the customer service desk at the local either Walmart or Kmart and we became friends.. She was Rita Lea at the time and was finishing up her college degree. Rita was something special, we spent a lot of time exploring the area around Altus and Oklahoma as a whole. To say that she was an angel would be putting it mildly She was a wonderful lady. I left and returned back to Dover AFB. During that time I learned a lot about Rita and got to meet her son going to the movies,. Fast forward 33 years thanks to facebook we rekindled our friendship catching up on all of our journeys throughout those 33years. Dick was a lucky man to have her as his bride. I was heart broken when I learned of her and Dicks accident Then one day I got a message from her asking me if I would mentor her in learning to play guitar, what an honor that would have been. Rita you have been in my heart for all these years and I will miss your little comments on FB calling me “ Jimmer” and I will always love you for the great person you were on this earth and I know that God has gotten a true Angel. God Bless you
To know Rita Drake was to love her. The compassion she showed for helping others in her line of work was unparalleled, and her genuine kindness was always on display. Rita, I will so miss our chats, stopping by to say hi for a minute, and your encouragement in the workplace. It was truly a privilege working alongside you. I know without a doubt you are in the presence of your Lord and Savior and have experienced eternal healing. We will see each other again in the Lord’s kingdom.
Love you, Mrs. Rita. I feel like I speak on behalf of our department at Spindletop—you made every one of our days better.
Will Johnson,
What a beautiful and heartfelt tribute to Rita Drake. It’s evident how deeply she impacted those around her with her kindness and compassion. Your words reflect not only the immense loss felt by everyone at Spindletop but also the hope we hold as believers in Christ. Rita’s legacy of encouragement, love, and selfless service is a testimony to the life she lived for the Lord. Thank you for sharing this touching remembrance. She will indeed be greatly missed, but what a comfort it is to know she is healed and rejoicing in the presence of our Savior.
Oh Rita…I know you have waited for this but I’m still selfish and want you here. You will live on in so many of us who had a chance to know you and learn from you. I’ll continue to imagine you on an endless cruise with sunny skies, karaoke, and dancing. You and Dick were, and always will be, loved.
The world has lost an angel. Rita dedicated her life to helping others, and she did a wonderful job. I feel honored to have worked with her for a few short years at Spindletop Center. May you rest in God’s peace, my dear friend.
Praying for the family. I worked with Mrs. Rita at Spindletop MHMR. I really loved her. She was a great person and teacher. She helped many people. She will truly be missed.