Novella Drake, 99 of Denton, Texas passed away on September 1, 2022. Novella was born to Hartwell and Gladys Hooten in Roanoke, Texas on December 4, 1922.

She enjoyed being surrounded by her family the most.  Throughout her life she has been an exceptional homemaker.  From a young age she has been caring for others.  In her forties she returned to school to become a nurse.  She loved cooking, sewing, collecting antiques, tending to her plants and flowers, working daily crossword and jumbles puzzles, watching reality television and talking on the phone.  She and her late husband, Tom, enjoyed spending time at "the mountain" in Arkansas.  They also traveled to the coast quite a bit so Tom could fish and she collect her beloved seashells.

Novella is survived by her daughter Jana Faie Drake Loehr, Jimmy Ray (JR) Hooten (her brother) of Denton, TX, grandchildren Sondra Weber and husband Scott (San Jose, CA), Johnny Longhurst and wife Angela (Lawrence, KS), Carter Drake and wife Cindy (Dripping Springs, TX), and Joanna Clark and husband Hunter (McKinney, TX). Great grandchildren Augie Longhurst, Corbin Weber, Corinne Weber, Kaylee Drake, Kaden Drake, Carcyn Drake, Peyton Clark, Easton Clark, and Hudson Clark. And her fur baby Punkin'.

She was preceded in death by her husband Thomas Drake and children Thomas "Tommy" W. Drake Jr. and Charla Jean Drake Doughty.

Visitation will be at Bill DeBerry Funeral home Thursday, September 8, 2022 from 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM. Funeral services will be Friday, September 9, 2022 at 1:00 PM also at DeBerry's with interment to follow at Roselawn Memorial Park in Denton, TX.