Ila L. Draves

Ila L. Draves Merrill, MI Passed away quietly on Thursday, April 4, 2019. Age 90 years. The daughter of the late Nettie P. (Tomlinson) and Clark B. Heath, was born June 20, 1928 in Flint, Michigan. She graduated Midland High School, class of 1946. In the 1940's she was a member of the Palmer High Speed Ball Team in Midland, MI and they won the state championship in 1946. She was married to Lorn W. Draves on November 22, 1946, who she often referred to as the most handsome man she ever met. They moved to Merrill, Michigan in 1951 where they raised 3 sons and a daughter on their 80 acre organic dairy farm. In addition, she sewed wedding, bridesmaid and prom gowns for 19 years in her home. In 1983, Lorn and Ila moved the Breckenridge Train Depot from Breckenridge to its current location on the family farm in Merrill. It was restored and was the site of Country Bridal Shoppe for 16 years. Ila loved baking, gardening, canning, picking berries and collecting & cracking hickory nuts and walnuts. Most of all she enjoyed her grandchildren and family who were all convinced that her chocolate peanut butter fudge and her homemade chicken & noodles were the best anyone anywhere could make !!! Ila also had many other hobbies over the years. She was a "rock hound" collecting stones from all over the country and she loved to paint, sometimes copying pictures from magazines, postcards and photographs. Ila also loved to travel the world going to Europe several times with family and friends. Surviving Ila are: three sons, Loren M. Draves; Barry Draves and his wife Ann; Mark Draves and his wife Maureen; one daughter, Vicki Zeitz and her husband Mark; as well as 10 grandchildren: Lori (Efraimo) Rimoni, Heather (Paul) Bergmann, Scott (Heather) Draves, Jeremy Draves, Matthew (Shelly) Draves, Tracy (Christopher) Wenzell, Heath Draves, Bethany (Mark) Rovoll, Coreen (David) Daniels and Lauren Draves; and 26 great-grandchildren. Ila was predeceased by her husband Lorn and her siblings Iva Heath and Lyle Heath. The funeral service will take place at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, April 10, 2019 at Merrill Wesleyan Church, 3765 N. Chapin Rd. Merrill. Rev. Tim Morris will officiate with burial in Homer Twp. Cemetery. Friends may call at the W. L. Case and Co. Funeral Chapel in Merrill from 1:00-8:00 p.m. on Tuesday and then at the Church from 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday until the time of the funeral service. In lieu of flowers, those planning an expression of sympathy may wish to consider THE CARE TEAM (hospice) or the Jonesfield Township Fire Department. The family wishes to extend a special thank you to the wonderful and loving staff of Caretel Inn of TriCities. www.casefuneralhome.com

Funeral Home:
W. L. Case and Company
125 East Saginaw Street
Merrill, MI
United States 48637