Nellie Smith Drage, 91, of Hagerman, passed away peacefully at her son's home in Carey, Idaho, on Feb. 28, 2011.
Nellie was born March 15, 1919, at the family home in Malta, Idaho. She spent her childhood in Malta, where she attended school, graduating from Malta High School in 1938.
She married Gordon W. Drage on Oct. 5, 1938, in a grocery store (which was owned by the local judge) in Burley, Idaho. Nellie and Gordon lived in Burley for a short time, then moved to Carey. In Carey they farmed and ranched until 1975 when they "retired" to Hagerman. During retirement, they both worked Tupperware for a number of years to retiring—this time for good.
Nellie is survived by her son, Randy Drage (Jolynn) of Carey; sister Beth Gunnell of Preston; grandaughters, Cindy Baird (children Jennifer, Amanda and Coleman) of Mountain Home, Chantel (Bill) Standley of Twin Falls and Brandi (Edd) Dingman (children Macee and Gage) of Idaho Falls; and grandsons, Ty (Gloria) Justesen (children Caleb, Cassie, Jimmy, Pete, Vera and Danny) of Filer and Daniel (Morgan) Drage (children Ashton and Whitley) of Carey.
Nellie was preceded in death by her parents, Samuel Napoleon (Nap) Smith and Vernice Rose Osterhout Smith; husband, Gordon Drage; daughter, Renee "Sue" Hestesen Esterholt; brothers, Bob, S.N. and Jake; and sisters Rose, Helen, JoAnn and Emma.
Graveside service was held Thursday, March 3, at the Hagerman Cemetery in Hagerman, Idaho.
The family suggest donations to Hospice of the Wood River Valley, Box 4320, Ketchum, ID 83340 in Nellie's memory.
Friends and family are invited to leave condolences and share memories at www.woodriverchapel.com.
