Beatrice Gertrude Feemster Rake

Beatrice Rake was born in Ft. Worth, Texas. While working as a soda jerk in Arlington, she met a young sailor, and they fell head over heels in love with each other. They were married six weeks later, and he announced their marriage in a telegram to his parents saying he had “acquired a wife over the weekend.” They were married for twenty years and had five children before he passed away. They lived most of their married life in Pampa, Texas. After his death, she moved to the Hurst area where she lived the remainder of her full and active life.

She found parenting as her most important life calling and set high expectations for her five children. She loved dancing, playing 42, and planning grand parties at the community center. She enjoyed fishing, gardening, and watching sporting events. She called each grandchild her “pride and joy” and fulfilled the role of grandmother as NanNaw, which is a name depicting the one-of-a-kind grandmother that she was.

She set the example for how to love a family well, and her life was one of service to her family and her community. She is survived by her children, Buddy Rake and wife Julie of Phoenix, Arizona, Donna Armstrong and husband Claude, of Celeste, Texas, Mike Rake and wife Jennifer, of Lake Dallas, Texas, Pat Rake and wife Michelle, of Hurst, Texas, and Doug Rake of Southlake, Texas, sister Louise Baugus of Texarkana, Texas, grandchildren Rhonda Gilliam and husband Jeff, Chris Rake and wife Chantil, David Armstrong and wife Jenny, Mandy Michimoto and husband Ryan, Marshal Rake and wife Sarah, Debbie Karle and husband David, Michael Rake and wife Lacey, Ryan Rake, Christopher Rake, Matthew Rake, and Owen Rake and bonus grandchildren Graham DiTomasso, Elliot Witte and wife Meredith, Monica Keith and husband David, Tyler Witte and wife Noelle.

She had 27 great-grandchildren, three with spouses, and 5 great-great grandchildren. She had numerous nieces and nephews who called her Aunt Boo.

She was preceded in death by her beloved grandchildren, Joshua Ray Rake, Misty Michelle May Rake DiTomasso, Marvell Oran Rake, Misty Dawn Rake, her husband Buddy Rake, her parents, brothers and sisters.


A celebration of life service will be held Tuesday, August 8, 2023, at 10:00am at North Point Baptist Church 147 E. Hurst Blvd., Hurst, Texas, with a visitation hour beginning at 9:00am.

Interment will follow at Watson Cemetery Arlington, Tx.