Violet N. Draper, 65, Mt. Vernon, died 1:43 p.m. July 10, 2005, at Barnes Hospital in St. Louis.

Mrs. Draper was a nursing instructor at Frontier Community College in Fairfield. She was also an instructor at Rend Lake College, Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville and the University of Alaska at Fairbanks, Alaska. She was director of the nursing program at Kaskaskia College, Centralia.

She was born Aug. 13, 1939, in Bluford, a daughter of Clyde and Effie (Clemens) Miller.

She married Joe Draper on May 23, 1959, in Bluford; he survives.

Her funeral will be 2 p.m. Wednesday at the chapel at Thomason Cemetery, Wayne City, with burial at that cemetery. Those attending are asked to go directly to the cemetery Wednesday afternoon. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at Hughey Funeral Home and from 1 p.m. until the time of the service Wednesday at the Thomason Cemetery chapel.

In addition to her husband, Mrs. Draper is survived by two sons, Perry Draper of Urbana and Philip Draper and wife Teresa of Edwardsville; a daughter, Cathryn Draper of Seattle, Wash.; four grandchildren, David Draper of Mt. Vernon, Megan Draper of Urbana, and Olivia Draper and Jack Draper, both of Edwardsville; two sisters, Eileen Austin of Centralia and Rose Mary Thomason and husband Earl of Bluford; and several nieces and nephews.

Mrs. Draper had a master's degree in nursing from SIU-Edwardsville and a doctorate in vocational education from SIU-Carbondale. She was a past president of Jefferson County Habitat for Humanity, a member of the Red Hat Society and attended both First United Methodist and Logan Street Baptist churches. She was a member of the First Methodist Church of Dutch Harbor, Alaska.

She was preceded in death by her parents; one sister, Margie Taylor; and one brother, Quentin Miller.

For those who wish, memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society and will be accepted at the funeral home or may be mailed to Hughey Funeral Home, P.O. Box 721, Mt. Vernon, IL, 62864. Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Hughey Funeral Home, where you may call (618) 242-3348 for further information.

Source: Register-News
Date: July 13, 2005
Submitted by: Robert W. Loman