Francis Donald Oakes, M.D. was born to Carroll D. and Eudora Hannah Oakes in Indiana, Pennsylvania on August 25, 1931. He died on October 10th. Francis was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Winifred Oakes Claggett and his beloved daughter-in-law, Nancy Billy Miller.
His family moved to San Benito, Texas when he was six years old. Upon graduation from San Benito High School in 1948 he traveled to Bethany, OK on the train to attend Bethany Penial College (Southern Nazarene University) where he received his BA in 1952. He received his MD from Baylor College of Medicine in 1956.
Dr. Oakes joined the Army after Medical School and completed an internship at Brooke Army Hospital, Brooke Army Medical Center, Ft. Sam Houston, TX in 1957. He served tours of duty at Letterman Army Hospital in San Francisco and as Post Surgeon in Ft. Greely, Alaska. After completing his anesthesia residency at Loma Linda University in California in 1964, he brought his family back to Bethany, OK where he founded Western Oaks Anesthesia Associates in 1965.
Dr. Oakes served as a member of the Oklahoma House of Representatives representing District 84 in 1973. He also served on the Putnam City School Board. He was a member and a past president of the Oklahoma Society of Anesthesiologists, a member of the Oklahoma State Medical Assoc. and the American Society of Anesthesiologists. He served as Chief of Staff at Deaconess Hospital in 1993. He was a past president of the Southern Nazarene University Alumni Association and was honored as one of the 100 most outstanding alumni at the SNU Centennial Celebration in 1999. He was also a co-founder and past president of the SNU Benchwarmer Booster Club and the Catalyst Science Alumni Association.
Dr. Oakes was a member of Crossings Community Church where he served as a member of the Board of Elders and the Worship Council. He sang in the choir and served as President of the Crossings Christian School Board.
Dr. Oakes will be greatly missed by his family who will remember him as a tender, loving husband and father who had a wonderful sense of humor and a great joy for living. His friends will remember him as an avid tennis player in his younger days and a great story teller who loved to laugh. His patients knew him as gentle, caring doctor who patted them on the cheek as they drifted off to sleep.
Dr. Oakes is survived by his wife, Marie; his sons, Dr. Raymond Oakes and wife, Debbie of Scottsdale, AZ; Dr. David Oakes and wife Hilary of Lubbock, TX; Timothy Oakes and wife Pam of Rock Hill, SC; Daughter, Jennifer Boswell and husband Randy of Spokane, WA; his step-daughter, Matrice Monroe of Midland, Michigan and step-son, Dr. Greg Miller of Edmond, OK; Niece, Sharon Nicholson and husband Robert and grand niece, Hannah of Houston, TX; Nephew, Kent Claggett and wife Nancy and grand nephew, Brian of Broken Arrow, OK; former daughters-in-law, Melanie Oakes Benefiel of San Juan Capistrano, CA; Judy Oakes of Boise, ID and Kristin Cassaday of Jenks, OK; Dr. Oakes is also survived by his former spouse, Elizabeth (Timmy) Oakes of Spokane, WA.
Grandchildren: Kendra Oakes Mueller and husband Ross and family of San Diego, CA; Kenneth Oakes of South Bend, IN; Kevin Oakes and wife, Tatiana and family of Anaheim, CA; Ryan Oakes and wife Alycia of Boise, ID; Shannon Lynch and husband Brian and family of Boise, ID; Lindsey Oakes of San Francisco, CA; Jessica Oakes of Boise, ID; Meagan Oakes of Los Angeles, CA; Mollie Oakes of Snta Ynez, CA; Brayden Jolley and husband Heath and family of Mary Esther, FL; Ethan Boswell of Spokane, WA; Ryan Monroe and family of Midland, MI; Emily and Eva Miller of Jenks, OK; Ashley Taylor and husband Todd and family of Oklahoma City, OK.
Great Grandchildren: Nolan, Nash, Nora, North, Jude, Luke, Ruby, Iyla, Rowan, Solomon, Sydney, Luke and Rozalynn.
Dr. Oakes is also survived by his beloved caregivers and friends, Brandi Stotts and Stephanie Boyle.
A memorial service will be held at Crossings Community Church, 14600 N. Portland Ave., OKC on October 24th at 10:00 AM. Masks are recommended at the service. A live stream of the service will be available at the following link: https://vimeo.com/467475273/9b598e11cf
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Francis D. Oakes Endowed Scholarship Fund and/or the Francis and Marie Oakes Endowed MCAT Scholarship Fund, Southern Nazarene University, Bethany, OK 73008.
Leave a Condolence