Yvonne Marie Drake Brady Obituary (1926 - 2011)

AN ELECT LADYYvonne Marie Drake Brady, our loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister and aunt quietly passed away at her home in Draper, Utah surrounded by her children and sister on August 6, 2011, after a courageous battle with cancer. Yvonne was born November 20, 1926 in Burley, Idaho to Herrick and Anona Jensen Drake.Her early years were spent in California, Arizona, Texas and Idaho, graduating from Burley High School and Southern Idaho College of Education with degrees in English and Physical Education. She taught at high schools in Hansen and Blackfoot, Idaho and Baker, Oregon before serving a two-year mission for the LDS church to the British Isles. Upon return, Yvonne married Russell Clark Robertson on July 16, 1953 in the Salt Lake Temple. After Russell’s military service stateside and abroad, they settled in Idaho Falls, Idaho and later Spanish Fork where she achieved her greatest accomplishment, raising her family of five devoted children.Yvonne loved serving in the church and because of her unwavering testimony, her willing hands were used in every auxiliary and three mission calls. Her spirituality, talents, creativity, leadership and loving nature were magnified in service to her church and community. Her continuing passion for learning and teaching led to in-depth study of her religious principles and doctrines, which she lived with a singular devotion, inspiring everyone who knew her.Yvonne was very creative, using her talents to sing with the Tabernacle Choir, compose music, write poetry and short stories and act on the stage and screen. In 1973 Yvonne began working in the film industry as a wardrobe mistress and designer. She worked on Hollywood films with stars such as Jimmy Stewart, but found her greatest joy in working on films for the church both with costumes and as an actress.On September 20, 1997 she married Melvin Brady in the Provo Temple. Their years together were filled with love and kindness. He preceded her in death in 2008.Yvonne was greatly loved by her children and grandchildren, rarely missing a graduation, wedding or recital. Her gentle, loving nature and wisdom will be missed.Yvonne is survived by her children Mark (Theresa) Robertson, St. George; Gaile (Terry) Balser, Draper; Meg (Mark) Shepherd and Claire (Jeff) Chance, South Jordan; Amy (Kent) Dayton, Pleasant Grove; 18 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her sister Edith Nielsen (Los Angeles), and her brother Marvin (Marlene) Drake (West Point) as well as many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, brother Elvin and husband Melvin.Funeral services will be held Saturday, August 13, 2011 at Jenkins-Soffe South Valley, 1007 West South Jordan Parkway, (106th South) at 11:00 a.m. A viewing will be held at the same location from 9:00-10:45 prior to the services. Interment will be at the Sandy City Cemetery, 9000 South 700 East in Sandy, Utah.