Cathy Drake Gravenmier
Cathy Drake Gravenmier embarked on a new journey on Saturday, April 27—one on which her earth-bound loved ones could not accompany her.
She departed this life unexpectedly while on vacation in Ireland, and while her family and friends were not able to say goodbye, she was welcomed to her heavenly home by the Lord and her beloved husband.
Mrs. Gravenmier was born on January 30, 1950 in Martin, Tenn. and raised by William Currie Drake and Ruth B. Drake of Milan, Tenn.
She graduated from Milan High School in 1968 where she was a member of the storied 1968 Lady Bulldogs basketball team. After high school, Mrs. Gravenmier graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Education from the University of Tennessee at Martin and began teaching K-6th grade in the Milan Special School District in the fall of 1987. While teaching multiple generations of students, she earned her Master’s Degree in Education from Union University in 2005.
Mrs. Gravenmier retired from teaching in 2012 but continued to help the district by serving as a substitute teacher, volunteer and finally as the S Team coordinator at Milan Elementary until her untimely passing.
She was wed to the love of her life, James Gravenmier, on November 27, 1971. Together they raised three daughters, Amy, Kate and Beth.
Mrs. Gravenmier was an active member of New Hopewell Church in Medina, Tenn. and volunteered with the Gibson County Sports Hall of Fame, the Mustard Seed in Milan, the Milan Endowment for Growth and Academics, and the Red Bird Mission Work Camp in Clay County, Ky.
She enjoyed reading, gardening, spending weekends at Kentucky Lake with her family, supporting the Milan YMCA and all MHS athletic programs, and spending time with her grandchildren.
Mrs. Gravenmier also loved to travel and had wished to visit all 50 states, as well as the country of Iceland, so that she could witness the northern lights.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her sister, Harriet Ann Burge; her husband, James Lloyd Gravenmier; a brother, Wayne Brooks Drake; and a sister, Ruth Drake Whitby.
Mrs. Gravenmier is survived by three sisters, Kay Drake Shearin (Butch), Carolyn B. Drake, and Diane Drake Camper (Johnny); her daughters, Amy Gravenmier Watson (Logan), Kate Gravenmier Smith (Josh) and Beth Ann Gravenmier (Thomas); her grandchildren, Kendall Westbrooks, Andy Westbrooks, Hadley Smith, Currie Kate Smith, Ashley O’Daniel and fiancée Ethan Goad and Jo O’Daniel; as well as a host of loving nieces, nephews, cousins, great-nieces and great-nephews.
The family would like to extend a truly heartfelt ‘thank you’ to her travel partners Johnny and Doreen Jones, Hubert and Denise Clemmer, Andy and Debbie Arnold, Kevin and Debbie McGaughey, and Debbie Buckner for their help in bringing Cathy home, as well as Stafford’s Funerary Services of Dublin, Ireland, Charlton McDade, the kind staff of the U.S. Embassy and the Dublin police, and the supportive people of Milan and Gibson County for their thoughts, prayers, food and support during this trying time.
Visitation will be held at New Hopewell Church in Medina on Thursday, May 16, from 4 until 8 p.m. A memorial service will be held at the church on Friday, May 17 at 11 a.m.
In lieu of flowers, Mrs. Gravenmier would have wanted her friends to make a donation to the Mustard Seed, MEGA or a charity of their choosing.