Raymond Charles Drake, 51, a longtime physical education teacher and basketball coach, passed away peacefully at the Vermont Respite House in Williston on Sunday morning, June 12, 2016. Born in Keene Valley, New York, on June 18, 1964, he was the son of Jean (Poro) Drake. Ray was previously married to the former Amanda “Mandy” Librett Morse.
Ray was a 1981 graduate of AuSable (New York) Valley Central School and continued his education at Johnson (Vermont) State College where he earned his bachelor’s degree in education and was a member of the basketball and rugby teams. He began his teaching career as an instructional assistant at Stowe Elementary School and in 1994, moving to Duxbury, he was employed for over 20 years as a physical education teacher for both the Waitsfield and Moretown Elementary School systems.
Ray thoroughly enjoyed sports, teaching and coaching kids. For over 20 years he coached all levels of basketball at Harwood Union High School in Duxbury including 12 years as head coach of the varsity team. Ray was honored by the Vermont Basketball Coaches Association for winning over 100 games as varsity coach and was a multiple recipient as Basketball Coach of the Year for the Capital Division. During his tenure he coached three teams that reached the Vermont state final four in the Division 2 tournament. In addition, Ray was a member of the Mad River Rugby Team for over 20 years and enjoyed the game of golf.
In his leisure time, Ray loved spending time with his children and attending their many sporting events.
Ray is loved and mourned by his two children, Samantha Drake of Waterbury Center and John Drake of Duxbury; his mother, Jean P. Drake of Morristown, New York; and his brother, Richard E. Drake of Saucier, Mississippi.
A service to celebrate the life of Raymond C. Drake will be held at the Harwood Union High School auditorium, 458 Vermont Route 100, South Duxbury, on Monday evening, June 20, 2016, at 6 p.m. with a reception to follow at the Waterbury (Village Station) Fire Department. The family requests that flowers be omitted; rather memorial gifts would be appreciated to Harwood Union High School (the Raymond C. Drake Scholarship Fund), 458 Vermont Route 100, South Duxbury, VT 05660. Assisting the family is Perkins-Parker Funeral Home and Cremation Service in Waterbury. To send online condolences visit www.perkinsparker.com.
