Harold Daniel Dake

Funeral services celebrating the life of Harold Dake will be 1:00p.m., Friday, October 3, 2014 at First United Methodist Church, pastor Dave Mewbourne will officiate. Burial will follow at Chelsea Cemetery, under the direction of MMS-Payne Funeral Home. Friends may visit at the funeral home on Thursday, from 1pm-8pm, with family receiving visitors from 6pm-8pm. Harold went to be with his Father on September 29, 2014. He was 67 years old.
Harold Daniel Dake was born in Hominy, Oklahoma on August 31, 1947 to David Daniel and Martha Delane (Stimson) Dake. He graduated from Chelsea High School in 1965. His grade school years were spent at many different schools as his dad, David, worked in the oilfields across the state. Chelsea was home to him and this is where he met Nelda Elam, who later became his wife of 35 years. They were married in 1966 and had three children; Lisa Danelle, Sheila Jo and Harold Brent. They bought their first home in Claremore and spent the next 20+ years raising a family. It was later that Harold and Nelda purchased land and move back to Chelsea to build a home and raise cattle. This was a dream for him and he had promised to let the kids get through school before returning to his home of Chelsea. He spent countless days and nights turning an overgrown piece of property into a beautiful farm.
Harold spent 35 years in the carpet and floorcovering business. His strong work ethic provided for his family and allowed his wife to stay home with the kids until they were in school. There were many times he worked all night so business owners could reopen the following morning. There aren’t many people that didn’t have some type of floorcovering work performed by Harold.
Harold enjoyed many things outside of work. He was an avid softball player and competitive as they come. There were many weekend tournaments and this time was spent with a group of people who grew to be like family. Tournament cookouts were common and the friendships forged, were something he held most dear. All the guys had nicknames and his was “DUCK” because the announcers had a habit of calling him Harold Drake.
Harold also enjoyed bird hunting and fishing. He looked forward to going to Aunt Mary Lou’s place at Grand Lake. Many late nights were spent there with his son catching one crappie after another. He went on an annual pheasant hunting trip to Kansas and had some great friends there as a result.
He was a man that was passionate about whatever he was doing whether it was work or play, but there was nothing he was more passionate about than OU Football. There was nothing he loved more than watching the Sooners line up in the wishbone and hang “half a hundred” on somebody, hopefully Texas. He was fortunate enough to spend a day watching a game with Barry Switzer last fall. Meeting Coach Switzer and shaking his hand was one of the best days of his life. He was Barry’s biggest fan. In fact, he read his book, Bootlegger’s Boy, and reading was not something Harold was known for.
Harold was just one of those guys you enjoyed being around. His impact on people around him was lasting. Everyone liked “Harry”. They all have stories to tell. He left this world a better place as a result of his personality and he will be missed.
Those family members that survive include his children Lisa Marrs and husband Allen, Shelia Harris and husband Andre and Brent Dake and wife Susan all of Claremore; his mother, Martha Dake; his grandchildren Alexis, Andrew, Abby, Gwen, Andre, Rakim, Elijah, Payshora, Amy and Ashley; his great-grandchildren Kimmie, Andre, Jr. and Bradly; the mother of his children and friend, Nelda Dake Conger; his brother EJ “Coupie” Dake and wife Luz of Claremore; many close cousins, nieces and nephews and extended family and friends. Harold was preceded in death by his father, David and his son David Leroy Dake.