Funeral Services for Sandra K. Drake, 78, Lawrence will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at First Southern Baptist Church , 4300 W 6th Street, Lawrence. Burial will be in Oak Hill Cemetery.
Sandra passed away Sunday, May 17, 2026, in her home in Lawrence after a battle with cancer.
She was born August 20, 1947, in Muskogee, Oklahoma, the daughter of Halmon (Hal) E. Joice and Winnie Mae Scott Joice.
Sandra graduated from Lawrence High School in 1965 and the University of Kansas in 1969 with a degree in elementary education. She taught for 32 years in the Basehor-Linwood, Lawrence and Jefferson County North school districts as well as the St. John’s Catholic School in Lawrence.
Following her retirement from teaching, she worked at the University of Kansas for 12 years in the Communication Studies Department.
She was a longstanding, active member of First Southern Baptist Church of Lawrence.
She was married to Gerald (Jerry) Spurlock for 16 years and they share two children – a son, Charles Scott Spurlock, and a daughter, Amy Elizabeth Spurlock.
She married Robert (Bob) C. Drake on March 8, 1986, in Lawrence, Kansas. He survives, of the home.
Other survivors include a brother, Charles (Chuck) E. Joice and Jane; a nephew, Robb Joice; three nieces, Kelly and Richard Valbuena, Katie and Steve Schwada and Kara Joice. A son, Charles and Lisa Spurlock; three grandchildren, Leah, Drake and Quincy; and a daughter, Amy Spurlock.
A visitation will be held from 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm Tuesday, May 19, 2026, at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to St. Croix Hospice, the women’s ministry, children’s ministry and missions ministry of First Southern Baptist Church Lawrence.