Vada V. Drayer

Vada Drayer passed away peacefully September 24 2019 surrounded by people who loved her dearly. Born Vada Vern Volkening, December 11, 1926 on the farm of her parents Herman and Ida Volkening in Wells Creek Kansas, without running water or electricity until 1938

Vada attended a one room school in Wells Creek and graduated from high school in Wamego, Kansas scoring the 4th highest in Wabaunsee County on the State Test. She was crowned 4H queen before earning a scholarship to Elmhurst College in Illinois, only to return home to Kansas State University where she joined the Phi Kappa Phi Honorary Society and majored in Nursing and Home Economics. After graduation from KSU she taught a class there in Home Design. While attending a Manhattan church picnic with her schoolmate Barbara Drayer, Vada asked if Barbara knew of any eligible bachelors. Barbara suggested her brother Donald and soon introduced the two

Vada married Donald Warren Drayer 0n May 24th, 1948, and moved to Oak Ridge, Tennessee. After their first child Kirby Dean was born in 1950, they moved to Manhattan, Kansas, then Kansas City, where second son Timothy Lynn Drayer was born in 1952. In 1954 the family relocated to Topeka, and Vada's third son Darryl Don Drayer arrived in 1958. Shortly after that the family settled in Overland Park, Kansas

During her time in Overland Park, Vada was active in the PTA, and Cub Scouts, served as chair of the Parks and Recreation Department, served as President of the Kansas Oklahoma Conference Women and President of Colonial Ladies at Colonial Church in Prairie Village. She also served on the Board of Directors of the Evangelical Childrens Home and taught a sewing class at the YWCA. Vada earned certification as a Montessori Teacher and then owned and was Director of Overland Park Montessori School from 1968 -1978. After selling that business she went back to school in her 50's and became a Registered Nurse. With that qualification she worked as a neo-natal nurse as long as she was physically able. After Don's retirement in 1986 the couple moved to Brewster Place in Topeka. Vada's marriage to Don continued until Don's death in 2003.

At Brewster Place Vada served as President of the Resident Council in 2006 and remained an active member of the community until very recently.

Vada is survived by two of her three sons, Kirby Drayer of DeSoto, Kansas and Darryl Drayer of Albuquerque, New Mexico. Her middle son Timothy Drayer passed away in 2009.

Her four Grandchildren include Christopher Drayer of Arvada, Colorado, Derek Drayer of Seattle, Washington, Hoyt Drayer of Columbia Heights, Minnesota and Deanna Drayer of Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Her six Greatgrandchildren include Julia Kay Drayer, and Rayna Finch Drayer, of Arvada Colorado, Ada Clarke Drayer of Columbia Heights Minnesota, Naomi Drayer and Nora Drayer of Seattle, Washington and August Paul Drayer of Albuquerque, New Mexico.

A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m., Sunday, October 20, 2019 at Brewster Place, Topeka. Dove Cremations and Funerals Southwest Chapel is assisting the family.

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