Gloria J. (Hawkins) Draper

 Gloria Jean Draper (Hawkins) passed away peacefully at her home on January 27, 2024 at the age of 82.

 Gloria was born in New Meadows, Idaho on February 19, 1941 and lived the majority of her life in her beloved town of Emmett, Idaho.  She was the oldest living sibling of two younger brothers Lewis and Rick born to Lewis Hawkins and Bud and Winnie Lee

 She went to Emmett High School where she met Boyd Draper at the age of 18.  They married in 1960 and shared 63 wonderful years together during which they welcomed three children, Cindy, Shelley and Mike.  Gloria was a stay-at home mom until her kids were older and she decided to start her own business.   For years she made beautiful bread baskets with dried flowers, blown eggs and little mice made of dough.  She traveled around the northwest selling her wares at craft shows where she made many lifelong friends.  She later opened Cocoa Beach Tanning Salon where she sold jewelry, clothing and tanning services.  It became a gathering place during Cruise Night and other community events where she would have truckloads of sand hauled in and host volleyball tournaments.  She later sold the business to care for her aging parents.

 Gloria loved researching her Finnish ancestry and spent years gathering information and connecting with family from all over the world.  She would research information for anyone who showed any interest in learning about their heritage!  They enjoyed traveling and spending time visiting family all over the country.  She was so excited when she got to go to Finland to visit relatives where they also traveled to several other countries.

 She was a wonderful grandmother and spent a lot of time with the grand kids.  She had beach parties out in the yard and always had jellybeans on hand.  She was even known to have flour fights in the kitchen when they made cookies.  You could hear her laugh down the street.

 Over the last couple of years Gloria cared for her husband, Boyd, in their home.  Boyd passed eleven days after his beloved wife. 

 She is preceded in death by her parents, Winnie Lee, Lewis Hawkins and Bud Lee; her son, Mike Draper; and her sister, Luella; brothers Lewis Hawkins and Rick Lee.  She is survived by her daughters Cindy Merrick (Kent) and Shelley Desind (Scott); grandchildren Amanda McKinney (Justin), Nicole Merrick (Scott), Meghan Randall (Chris), Brandon Merrick, Cameron Desind (Caycee), Kelsey Masaitis (Mike); five great grandchildren and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.  

 A Memorial Service for Gloria and Boyd will be held on March 16, 2024 at Potter Funeral Chapel in Emmett, Idaho at 2:00 PM with graveside services and reception to follow.

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