Cathy Weaver Drake

First, although I was only there freshman and sophomore years, I feel I have kept up with you all and am excited to see you again. I attended Dobyns-Bennett High School in Kingsport, TN (my hometown) after leaving. After graduation, I attended UT-Knoxville and ETSU, Johnson City. I married my high school sweetheart in 1966 only to divorce in 1972. Had one son, Tim, who lives in Athens, GA and is married with one child, my granddaughter and love of my life, Olivia, 3 years old. At college I majored in predental and after marriage worked in the dental field in Kingsport and Nashville, TN. I met my wonderful husband, Grady, there in 1979 at a dental meeting, and we were inseparable, marrying the next December, 1980. He as Southeast Regional Manager for Dentsply, International, York, PA. We lived in Marietta, GA. Then in 1979, he developed kidney problems. To make a long story short, he had a transplant in April 1989, we moved to San Mateo, FL that August, then to Ponte Vedra, FL in August 1994. I lost him last September after a second transplant in 1997 and two bouts of lung cancer. I was so blessed to have had him as long as I did. We enjoyed so many of the same things, especially traveling…Holland, Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Brazil, Barbados, and a three-month trip around the US.

I have been employed at Mayo Clinic here in Jacksonville since 1999 and work in Patient Financial Services. It has been a lifesaver. My passion and therapy is gardening. (I took so many pictures of tulips in Holland I almost broke the camera!) I have no immediate family here in Florida but have been here almost 15 years, so this is home. My neighbors, friends, and coworkers are my family now, and although I wish my son and his family were closer, I have no plans to move at the present time. The beach is a mile away. I love to bike ride, and there’s never a lack of something to do.

Could go on and on, but will save that for October. Looking forward to seeing you.