Obit of Oakes, James Nuell "Jim" - McIntosh County, Oklahoma Submitted by: Gene Phillips 23 Apr 206 Return to McIntosh County Archives: http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/ok/mcintosh/mcintosh.html ========================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/copyright.htm ========================================================================== ::?--Guymon OK Oakes, James Nuell "Jim" Our beloved dad and granddaddy, James Nuell (Jim) Oakes, was born in Cauthron, Arkansas, on May 21, 1926, as the third son of Clifton and Esther Oakes. He died September 26, 2005, at the age of 79 years. He is survived by his devoted wife of nearly 56 years, Betty Oakes, of Eufaula, and their three children: Jim Oakes, Jr., and his wife, Cheryl of Guymon; Susan Lauderdale and her husband, Mark, of Cushing; and Steve Oakes and his wife, Jacine, of Hooker. Jim also leaves five grandchildren: Jaime Oakes and his wife, Cortney, of Guymon; Jason Oakes and his wife, Amanda, of Norman; Ryan Lauderdale of Austin, Texas; Mindi Lauderdale of Oklahoma City, and Aaron Oakes of Hooker. His precious great grandchildren include Samuel, Tempe, and Paul Oakes of Guymon and Damaris Oakes of Norman. Other survivors include three brothers and their wives: Gerald and Gwen Oakes of Cauthron, Arkansas; Harold and Sue Oakes of Ozark, Arkansas, and Cliff and Velma Oakes of Etna, California. His parents and two sisters, Charlene Baker and Kathleen Swiney, preceded him in death. Jim graduated from Waldron High School in Arkansas and then joined the Navy as a Yoeman First Class. After serving in World War II aboard the USS Neville, he was honorably discharged in 1945 after a bout with tuberculosis, which he contracted in the South Pacific. He married Betty Sanders on November 5, 1949, in Booneville, Arkansas, and then began his college education through the GI Bill. Jim graduated from the University of Arkansas with a BS in Accounting in 1954 and was elected to the honorary accounting fraternity Beta Alpha Psi. He then went on to pass the CPA exam twice, first in Missouri in 1954 and then in Oklahoma in 1957, where he was awarded the Gold Medal for the highest score. After working for both Price Waterhouse and Continental Oil Company, he moved his family to Guymon, Oklahoma, in January 1962, becoming the first CPA in Oklahoma to practice west of Enid. There he built his own public accounting firm, which is still in operation today under the leadership of second and third generation CPAs, Jim Oakes, Jr. and Jaime Oakes. The Oklahoma Society of CPAs honored him in 2004 as an active 50-year certificate holder. In Guymon, Jim obtained his private instrument flight pilots license and flew many years for business and personal reasons. Though he was blessed with much success in his accounting practice as well as the oil and gas business, Jim's first passion in life was always his family. Known for his remarkable story telling, his memories of his Arkansas childhood will continue to be told by his children and grandchildren. Jim's legendary Bob Wills fiddling heard either on his front porch or at an occasional dance played by his band, the Arkansas Soaks, will always be one of his family's most treasured memories. He also loved genealogy, and spent many hours at his computer, researching his family's history. A memorial celebration of Jim's life will be held in Eufaula at the First Methodist Church at 11:00 AM on Thursday, September 29, 2005, under the direction of Hunn, Black, & Merritt Funeral Home. Gravesides services for family and friends will be held in Guymon on September 30, 2005, at 2:00. Viewing will be held that day at the Henson Novak Funeral Home in Guymon from 10-12 AM and the family will receive guests at the personal residence after the service. Donations may be made in Jim's memory to the St. Jude's Children's Hospital in care of either funeral home. Published in The Oklahoman on 9/28/2005. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Return to McIntosh County Archives: http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/ok/mcintosh/mcintosh.html