Jack Oakes

Jack Odean Oakes, age 85, of Rogers, AR, formerly form Waldron, Arkansas went to be with his Lord and Savior on December 28, 2012. He had been admitted to Northwest Hospital in Bentonville, Arkansas where he later departed due to heart and lung complications. Jack was born March 3, 1927 in Cauthron, (Morgan Springs) AR to William Ragon and Verna Vise-Oakes. He had two siblings, Ronald Lee Oakes of Rancho Cordova, California and Patricia Ann Sampson of Waldron. Jack attended schools in both Los Angeles, California at John H. Francis Polytechnic High School and later attended and graduated from Waldron High School. Jack met and married the love of his life Thelma Louise Hunt on December 31, 1971. Jack was a retired Merchant Seaman, truck driver, Security Guard, School Bus Driver, and farmer. He loved to talk about his times traveling the world as a Merchant Seaman. During his maritime service he circumnavigated the world twice and visited nearly every major port of call in the world. He loved to tell of his travels and discoveries form these distant lands. Jack entered into the maritime service just before the end of World War II during the liberation of the Philippines. Jack took part in providing supplies to include oil for the war effort in the Pacific Theatre. He would later receive veteran status for his contributions in World War II. Jack was later drafted into military service as a private first class in the Korean War where he served in the 1st Calvary Division and was the main gunner on a half track. Jack?s hobbies included being with his family and friends, fishing, and his love of reading and traveling. Jack is preceded in death by his mother, Verna; father, Ragon; brother Ron; and his sister Pat. Jack is survived by his wife, Louise, of Rogers, Arkansas; a step-son Ronald Joe Isenhower, and his wife Monika, of Fayetteville, AR; Michael Ragon Oakes of Rogers; and Bryan Dean Oakes, of Fayetteville. He had six grandchildren: Cassandra Jo Isenhower; Julie Amanda Isenhower; Jessica Nicole Isenhower; Kyle Austin Oakes; Ryan Jackson Oakes; and Hannah Renee Oakes and three nephews and one niece and many beloved cousins. Jack's life celebration service will be held at 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, January 2, 2012 at the Cauthron Methodist Church with Reverend Jack Smith, officiating. Interment will follow in the Kirk Cemetery in Cauthron, Arkansas with military honors. Arrangements are being entrusted to the Heritage Memorial Funeral Home & Crematory in Waldron, Arkansas. Jack's pallbearers will be Cody Carpenter, Jason Daggs, Kirk Dedmon, Scott Thompson, Eric Thompson, and David Gardner. Honorary pallbearers will be Kyle Austin Oakes, and Ryan Jackson Oakes. Jack's visitation will be Tuesday, January 1, 2012 from 2:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the Heritage Memorial Funeral Home where his family will receive friends from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m.. Jack often remarked about how fortunate he was to have lived in the times that he did and to be able to look back over his life and see the amount and the rate of change that occurred and he did feel most fortunate to be able to live to see those advancements.

Jack Oakes

March 2, 1927 - December 28, 2012