Drake Lenz

    Drake Daniel Lenz died Nov. 27, 2017. He was born Dec. 16, 1985, in Denver. His parents, Jim and Leslie, brought him home to his sister, Robin.
    He was raised on the farm with a lot of family and loved growing up in the country, where he could run full speed ahead — a characteristic he developed early in life. He joined the Boy Scouts and learned many skills that he may or may not have shared with his cousins.
    There was always someone close by, whether relative or friend, who was watching; however, no one thinks Drake was really concerned about that. He was perceptive and understanding but didn’t hesitate to say what he thought.
    He was always up for a good laugh with anyone — family, friend or stranger. Drake was always ready to help whoever needed it; he’d give you the shirt off his back. But he never pulled punches when it came to sharing his opinion or his sense of humor.
    Drake graduated from Wray High School in 2004. He met Ciara Abbey in 2004 while attending Northwest Kansas Vocational School in Goodland, Kansas. During their time together, Drake and Ciara resided in Kearney, Nebraska, Montrose and Bennett. While living in each of these places, he met people that impacted and enriched his life and helped him develop not only his talents but also his character.
    Although the relationship did not last, Drake and Ciara were blessed by the birth of their daughter. Emree Elizabeth Lenz was born June 15, 2009, in Montrose. Drake was ecstatic to be a parent and was very proud of his daughter. In her own words, Emree says of her daddy, “Drake was the nicest dad in the world and a good stepdad to Lilly, Aiden and Grayson and a great husband to Ann and is so nice to Tony.”
    Drake went on to meet the love of his life in November 2014. Drake met Ann Marie Harris and had an immediate connection. Soon they decided that the connection was authentic and introduced each other to respective families. A wedding was planned for December 2017, and Drake’s life was all that he could have hoped for. He had a beautiful daughter, a beautiful fiancee, and was surrounded by a loving family and the greatest of friends.
    Drake and Ann had a new home where they could build their dreams together. Drake went about diligently working on, not only remodeling homes for Dimes to Dollars Inc. but also starting his own businesses. As everyone knows, Drake was not good at standing still for long.
    Drake lost his life doing one of the many things he loved — riding his bike, feeling the wind blow through his hair and enjoying his freedom. He died while riding motorcycles with his soon-to-be father-in-law Jeff Martin.
    Apparently God is adding a few new rooms to his home and wanted Drake’s help. After lending him to us for 32 years, God has called him home. We have no choice but to let him go.
    Drake was preceded in death by his grandpa, George Lenz.
    Drake is survived by his daughter, Emree Elizabeth Lenz; fiancee, Ann Marie Harris; parents, Jim and Leslie Lenz; sister, Robin and husband Dave and their children Kiersen and Reagan Henson; and grandparents, Vern and Mildred Bingham of Fort Collins and Betty Lenz of Wray. As his dad would say, “If a man is measured by the size of his heart, Drake was a huge man because his heart was big enough to hold us all.”
    A rosary was held Dec. 1 at St. Andrew Catholic Church in Wray. Mass of Christian burial was held Dec. 2 at St. Andrew Catholic Church, with Father Jonathan Dellinger officiating. Interment was at the Grandview Cemetery in Wray.
    Memorials may be made to the Emree Lenz Scholarship Fund, c/o Schmidt-Jones Funeral Home, 427 Adams St., Wray, CO 80758.
    Schmidt-Jones Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.