MARCH 19, 2021, KEIZERTIMES, PAGE A17
obituary
Richard Scott Drakeley
May 15, 1973 – March 7, 2021
RICHARD SCOTT DRAKELY / Submitted Photo
(okay, maybe that’s not the 100% true story
behind the name). Rick was passionate
about bowling and fortunately for Salem-
Keizer’s bowling leagues, McMinnville is
close enough that he was able to rejoin
his father's Monday nights bowling there,
even scoring a couple perfect 300 games
and giving him a darn good excuse to
wear a bowling shirt any time he felt like
it here.
It quickly became apparent Rick
had not just opened a place for people
to get sustenance, as something more
dynamic happened within those four
walls. What he had done was open a
set of physical doors from his heart for
complete strangers to become regulars.
Regulars to become best customers,
best customers to become friends,
and friends to become besties. While
simultaneously fostering applicants to
become employees, and those employees
to become family. He welcomed them
all with open arms, an omnipresent wry
smile, his famous bowling shirts (and if
you were lucky) a purple suit made of
Crown Royal bags, the occasional prom
sudoku
dress or a Scottish kilt and, of course,
his infamous collection of Speedos he
reserved for “special occasions” or, more
realistically, any day that ended with the
letter “y”.
Serendipitously,
for
Rick,
his
restaurant’s open doors had plans of
their own for opening his heart. One day
a beautiful red-haired girl with emerald
green eyes named Katelyn (Flora)
walked in and sat down at the bar with
her friend, who like many others had
become fast friends with Rick. His life
was changed forever. Over time, Rick
gushed to his friends and family that
gathered at the 411 about this beautiful
redhead that now owned his big heart.
Katelyn and Rick were married on April
29, 2018 surrounded by friends, family
and obviously his new-found 411 family.
In May of 2019 together Rick and Katelyn
welcomed their handsome son Greysin
into this world. Greysin must have
known that his dad was a special man, as
he was so excited to meet his father, he
decided to join this world a few months
early Ricky’s heart was now full as his
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brainfood
sudoku answers pg A20
Richard Scott Drakeley unexpectedly
left us on Sunday March 7, 2021 after
his heart which had given so much, to
so many, ultimately gave out. Ricky was
born on May 15, 1973 in Boise, Idaho.
He was raised by his loving parents
William and Joyce Drakeley and grew
up in Keizer alongside his big brother,
Doug. He graduated from McNary
High School in 1991. Rick cooked in the
kitchens of several restaurants in the
Salem area, and with the culinary skills
he had honed, followed that big heart
of his out to Minnesota, chef-managing
at the Norway Ridge Supper Club and
teaching his stepson Billy Sachs, 24, and
stepdaughter Sydney Sachs, 25, how to
ride their bicycles on his days off. He also
welcomed his daughter Mena Drakeley,
17, into this world and with the pride and
joy he had for Mena his heart grew even
more.
His heart again led the way back
West and he returned to Oregon, where
he intended on opening a restaurant in
Salem; fortunately for McMinnville he
found the little restaurant space located
at 411 NE Third Street. The address
seemed like a good enough name and
The 411 Eatery & Lounge was opened
bride and his kids loved him as much as
he loved them back.
To many, Rick is simply family,
whether metaphorical or legally
and simply referred to him as “dad”,
“brother”, “son” or even “minister” at
their weddings. Rick’s heart had a way of
making everyone seem like they were his
top priority. He never hesitated to stop
and have a whiskey with you, sit down
at the table to talk, jump in the car to
deliver dinner, make a phone call, or send
out a text message (no matter what time
of day or middle of the night it was) just
to make sure you felt important, make
you smile or let’s be honest, occasionally
just to make you cringe. Rick, in turn,
considered his restaurant an extension
of his home. Over the last year, the thing
that hurt his giant heart the most about
the pandemic was his inability to give
everyone the hugs he’d become famous
for, and to make sure to tell everyone
“Alright, I love ya!” on your way out the
door.
Rick’s heart gave everyone everything
it had, and Sunday it failed him, leaving
his family’s and “family’s” hearts
forever filled with stories, memories,
photographs and the pure love that only
comes from someone who was more
than just a tall man behind the bar in a
polyester bowling shirt wearing a silly
hat and probably a thong.
Viewing / Open house was held at
Macy and Son funeral home on Sunday,
March 14. Online condolences can be left
at www.macyandson.com
Enter digits 1-9 into blank spaces. Every row must contain
one of each digit. So must every column, & every 3x3 square.
maze by Jonathan Graf of Keizer