Anne Drake
Anne Drake passed away peacefully at her lakeside home on December 5, 2024, at the age of 76.
Anne was born on April 27, 1948, in New Brunswick, New Jersey, to George M. Jr. and Jessie Chastain. Though she resided in several states—Texas (Houston), Connecticut (Cromwell Hills), and Tennessee (Memphis)—Lake Charles, Louisiana was the place she called home for much of her life, until her retirement from ConocoPhillips led her to relocate to Mexico.
Anne was a passionate community member, contributing her time and talents to numerous causes. Her love for theater was evident in her extensive involvement with the Lake Charles Little Theatre, where she served as a board member, publicity chairperson and concessions committee member, as well as a performer. She graced the stage in countless plays, bringing vibrancy and authenticity to her characters, whether in lead or supporting roles.
Equally close to Anne’s heart was her work with the Eljay Foundation for Parkinson’s Awareness. After losing her father to Parkinson’s disease, Anne dedicated herself to supporting research and advocacy. As a board member and gala committee member, she was instrumental in the foundation’s growth, including the opening of its Ryan Street office. In 2009, she was honored with the prestigious Wind Beneath My Wings-Butterfly Award for her unwavering dedication to the Parkinson’s community.
Anne’s commitment to service extended far beyond the theater and advocacy. She served as president of the Rotary Club of Westlake and was an active member and past president of the United Way publicity committee.
Her love for animals, especially cats and dogs, was unparalleled. Anne dedicated herself to animal rescue and adoption, working with organizations such as Lapaw Rescue and Lake Area Partnerships for Animal Welfare in Louisiana, where she served as a foster parent, Adoption Days assistant, and publicity committee member. After moving to Mexico, she continued her efforts with local dog rescues.
In Chapala, Anne remained active in community life as a member of the Rotary Club and a local theater group. She also generously gave her time to teach English at a local orphanage, further exemplifying her dedication to making a difference.
Anne’s legacy of love, compassion, and service touched countless lives—human, canine, and feline alike. She will be remembered as a loving and devoted mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend.
She is survived by her daughter, Amy Hinton; her son, Douglas Henning, and his wife, Maryellen; her grandchildren, Morgan Eastman and husband Cade, Logan Wilson and wife Sarah, Jonathan Henning, and Jason Henning; and her great-grandchildren, Kemper, Elizabeth and Preston Eastman..
Instead of flowers, donations in her memory can be made to the organizations listed in this link: forevermissed.com/anne-drake/about.
A memorial service for the family and friends of Anne will be held at First United Methodist Church in Lake Charles on January 11, at 2 p.m. This will be live-streamed and the link posted in the next few days on her memorial page.
Víctor Martínez Vélez
Long-time Ajijic resident Víctor Martínez Vélez passed away on Wednesday, December 4, in a Guadalajara hospital due to complications from cancer treatments. He was 71 years old.
Born into a large Tapatío family on January 9, 1953, he was the son of Víctor Martínez Martínez and María de Jesús Vélez. Víctor pursued higher education at the University of Guadalajara, earning a degree in agricultural engineering. After graduation, he began his career at the Instituto de Ciencias Agrícolas in Baja California Sur.
While attending a quinceañera celebration in Guadalajara, he noticed a captivating redhead seated at another table. Drawn to Aurora Michel Galindo, he courted her persistently for three years. The couple married in 1977 and honeymooned by the sea in Puerto Vallarta.
Their first home was in Ciudad Constitución, Baja California Sur, where they worked and engaged in social action programs, including the development of water services for an ejido communal land community. The family later relocated to various locations in Jalisco as they raised three children and pursued careers in agriculture and banking. In 1989, they settled in the Lake Chapala area, drawn by employment opportunities and the bilingual education offered at Oak Hill School for their daughter and two sons.
Over the years, Víctor and Aurora devoted much of their free time to environmental activism in the Lake Chapala region. Among other initiatives, Víctor established a green waste composting project and tree farm near Santa Cruz de la Soledad.
Víctor’s last professional role was as a professor at CETAC, a secondary education institution in Jocotepec. There, he taught students techniques for improving soil quality and reforestation, contributing to the restoration of the region’s ecosystem.
He is survived by his devoted wife, Aurora, daughter Aurora, sons Víctor and Horacio, grandson Víctor Sebastián, and siblings Teresa, Graciela, María de Jesús, Armando, and Jorge. He also leaves behind his 94-year-old mother.
Víctor’s ashes were laid to rest in the columbarium of Chapala’s San Francisco Parish. Memorial Masses were held on December 7, 8, and 9 at the Parroquia de San Andrés in Ajijic. Students and colleagues at CETAC joined his family on December 12 for a ceremony at the school campus, where a young mesquite tree from the school’s nursery was planted in his honor.