Mary Dawn Drake

“Some souls are too beautiful for this world and so they leave.” Our sweet and silly Mary Dawn suddenly and unexpectedly passed away at the young age of 37 on Christmas Eve December 24th, 2022 at St. Luke’s East Hospital in Lee’s Summit, MO where she resided. Mary Dawn was born on May 8th, 1985 at Citizen’s Memorial Hospital in Bolivar, MO. She is predeceased by her father Ronald Drake who passed on August 24th, 1994. She leaves behind a 17-year-old son, Aidan Benavidez who currently attends Lees Summit North high school and will graduate in May 2023. She is survived by her mother Jeanne Drake, two sisters Bethany McGuire and Delissa Drake, two brothers Bryan Griffin and Nathan Drake and a large extended family. Mary Dawn graduated from Fair Play High School in 2003 where she attended K-12. She played softball where her nickname was “Scooter” because she was so fast around the bases. Her favorite sport was basketball where she played point guard. She ran cross country and was a cheerleader where she was known to do back handsprings all the way down the court. She leaves behind so many lifelong elementary and high school friends. After high school Mary Dawn gave birth to her son, Aidan and started working as a Pharmacy Technician in Kansas City, MO. While working full time and as a single mother, she graduated from Anthem University in Kansas City, MO with a Surgical Technician degree. She continued working as a Pharmacy Tech and most recently worked at the Corner Café in Riverside, MO for 5 years and the Cracker Barrel in Independence, MO the past year. She was very well known and loved by all her co-workers and regular customers. Mary Dawn loved to spend time with her son, play slow pitch softball with her friends and travel whenever she could. She loved to sing, watch movies and workout. She had a special knack for making friends wherever she went. She had exceptional empathy for everyone and would do anything to help her family and friends. She loved to laugh and enjoy life and showed that to everyone she met. She was extremely tenacious and hardworking. She was known for her ability to bounce back from adversity and come out stronger. She will be remembered by everyone for her love of life and her son. Mary Dawn will be buried at Shady Grove Cemetery in Fair Play, MO next to her dad. Her pallbearers will be her son Aidan Benavidez, brother Bryan Griffin, nephews Luke and Ethan McGuire and cousins Darrin Ankrom, Bradley Nelson, Trevor Ankrom, Logan Ankrom and Ryan Ankrom. “Live fast, love hard, die young and leave a beautiful memory.” Faron Young. Services for May Dawn Drake will be held at 11:00 A.M. Saturday, December 31, 2022. Visitation will be held at 10:00 A.M. Saturday until the time of service. Memorial donations may be made to the family.

Mary Dawn Drake

May 8, 1985 - December 24, 2022