Robert Edward Oakley

Robert Edward Oakley, age 83, of Cameron went to be with the Lord on Saturday, November 13, 2021 at FirstHealth Hospice House in Pinehurst, surrounded by his loving family.

A Going Home Celebration will be held on Tuesday, November 16, 2021 at 2:00 p.m. at Cox Memorial Funeral Home Chapel with Lewis Ring and Pastor Tom Everett officiating.  Burial will follow at The House of the Lord Cemetery in Vass.  The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the funeral home from 1 until 2.

Robert was born in Moore County on August 11, 1938 to the late Mack Samuel and Gladys Blakley Oakley. In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by a son, Jimmy Edward Oakley, sister, Betty Jean Lea and brother, Johnny Oakley.

Robert was a local farmer and enjoyed working in his vegetable garden and fixing things but most of all he loved the Lord and his family. He will be greatly missed.

He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Alice Campbell Oakley; children, Ronnie Oakley (Melissa) of Cameron, Anita Jones (Steve) of Carthage, Pamela Russell (Gene) of Cameron and David Oakley (Blanca) of Cameron; sisters, Lucille Ashburn of Cameron, Annie Patterson of Cameron, Mary Burnett (Robert) of Cameron; brother, Martin Oakley of Cameron; sister-in-law, Lorena Oakley of Sanford; grandchildren, Maegan Lea (Josh), Katie Sharp (Ryan), Jonathan Russell (Gena), Jennifer Cole (Justin), Sara Russell, Rebecca Ragsdale, James Ragsdale (Sydney), Brandon Oakley (Kathryn), Robert James Oakley, Stephen Oakley, Emma Oakley and Stephanie Jones; great-grandchildren, Padraig Sharp, Kinsley Sharp, Everett Sharp, Ava Cole, Ashlyn Cole, Porter Cole, Langston Ragsdale, Vera Russell, Baby Boy Russell, Eloise Lea, Mabel Lea, Jude Bibey, Aiden Edwards and  Sophia Edwards.

In Lieu of flowers, donation may be made in Memory of Robert Oakley to FirstHealth Hospice House in Pinehurst.

Condolences may be sent to www.coxmemorialfuneralhome.com.

Cox Memorial..."Serving GOD, by serving families in a time of need."

Eulogy Written by Anita Jones

Our daddy was a tall, dark & handsome hard-working man who loved his family and was very proud of all his children and grands!

There is a verse in Ecclesiastes 5 that makes me think of daddy every time I read it.
King Solomon states, “I realized that it is good and proper for a man to eat and drink, and to find satisfaction in his toilsome labor under the sun during the few days of life God has given him—for this is his lot.  Moreover, when God gives any man wealth and possessions, and enables him to enjoy them, to accept his lot and be happy in his work- this is a gift of God. 

And daddy was happy with his lot in life- from his very first job at the chicken plant in Robbins making about $1 an hour to a lifetime of farming tobacco, repairing trucks, cars and tractors, building trailers, or growing a garden- he worked hard at whatever he did.  He definitely found satisfaction in his work.  Grandma Campbell would sit at the end of the dinner table and wouldn’t pick up her fork to eat until she had watched daddy start eating.  She would say, “I love to watch a hard-working man eat!”

Daddy loved to plant a garden and watch it grow! He loved it so much that the size of the garden kept on growing. Over the years the garden area went from being on one side of the house to being on both sides of the house AND behind it! He kept us busy in the summer- one of the ways he instilled hard work in us. One summer we were all working in the garden, picking beans I believe, Ronnie was about 13 and wanted to try some Red Man. Mama told daddy not to give it to him but he did anyway and Ronnie got so sick. You could almost see him turn green. He never wanted it again! And daddy’s goal was accomplished!

Although, he was diligent in all his farming, gardening and mechanic work, housework wasn’t his forte. Early in their marriage mom had come home from the hospital and much to her delight found that he had done a good job of cleaning the kitchen. There were no dirty dishes in the sink!  Her elation was short-lived when she opened the cabinet doors and found the dirty dishes stacked under the sink!  

I have seen love in action in many ways by many people over the last three weeks. What is love?

I John 4:16 tells us “God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God lives in him.”  We celebrated mom and dad’s 63rd wedding anniversary on October 10th.  They have held true to the vows they made to each other in 1958- for better or worse, in sickness and in health till death do us part.  And mom has proved herself faithful to that promise and I’m sure daddy would have done the same had the roles been reversed.  Even on a crutch with much pain in her leg and foot, she cared for daddy with patience and faithfulness.  She put into action I Corinthians 13- Love is patient, love is kind.  It does not envy or boast.  It is not proud, rude or self-seeking. Love is not easily angered and it keeps no record of wrongs.  Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trusts, always hopes and always perseveres. Love never fails!

Daddy wasn’t one to complain. We had to ask him if he was hurting in order to know if he needed pain medication. One of the nurses at the Hospice House commented that he was the most non-complaining patient she had ever seen.

I asked mom to tell me one thing about daddy that none of us kids probably knew about him.  She said he would encourage her to go pray for someone that they knew of who was sick.  Or when Aunt Shirley was not feeling well and it had been a few days since mom had talked to her, dad would say, “Don’t you think you should call Shirley and check on her?” Daddy was a compassionate man. 

Now, anyone who knew daddy even a little couldn’t help but know that he always had his Red Man chewing tobacco with him.  One day while he was still at home he had made his way up the hall from his bedroom to the hospital bed in the living room.  The Red Man had been put away in the drawer of the end table in hopes that he wouldn’t think about it- out of sight, out of mind. He asked about it and Pam said, “”It’s gone!”  His reply was “then I’ll chew the bag!” 

About the 2nd day at Hospice House, our brother David delivered “contraban” to daddy’s room, of course he was only following daddy’s orders.  He proceeded to pull out a fresh, new package of Red Man.  I found a Styrofoam cup and placed a paper towel in it to make him a spit cup and gave it to him.  After a few minutes the nurse came in and I think we all wondered if we were in trouble. 

The nurse was talking to daddy as he steadily chewed on the wad- the spit cup in his left hand in plain view.  I wondered if she was thinking, “What is he chewing on?”  If she did figure it out, she never said a word.  She left the room and we all breathed a sigh of relief.  But daddy was happy!

On Monday night, November 8th, daddy perked up for over an hour making jokes and giving words of wisdom.  We laughed and truly enjoyed that very special time together. He asked again for his tobacco.  Mom gave it to him but with a stern warning, “If that nurse comes in here, you keep your mouth shut!”  Daddy’s words of wisdom that night included Work Hard, Always tell the truth, and make good decisions!  Although, he directed those nuggets of wisdom to different ones, it’s for sure he meant them for all of us.

When mom asked, “What word do you have for me, honey?”  He replied, “Hard to beat!”  He knew he had a rare jewel in mama. Perhaps the accolade he made of her would be equal to Proverbs 31.  Who can find a virtuous and capable wife?  She is more precious than rubies.  Her husband can trust her, and she will greatly enrich his life. She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life. She is energetic and strong, a hard worker. She extends a helping hand to the poor and opens her arms to the needy.  She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future.  When she speaks, her words are wise and she gives instructions with kindness.  Her children arise and bless her. Her husband praises her saying “There are many virtuous and capable women in the world, but you, Alice Oakley, surpass them all!”  Charm is deceptive and beauty does not last, but a woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised.

In October Robert Edward Oakley had his name written in the Book of Life when he made a confession of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior of his life. He has run his race and finished his course and, like him, each of us either have or will make a personal decision for eternal life through Jesus Christ.  So I do not grieve for daddy today because he is healed- no pain, suffering or tears.  I pray to God that we will all be able to say to him “I’ll see you on the other side!” 

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