Extracted from The Birmingham News (Birmingham, AL)
Thursday, November 5, 2009

CARY BRAND OAKLEY, SR.

OAKLEY, CARY BRAND, SR., 94, of Gorgas, Alabama, originally from Centreville, Alabama, passed away during the early morning hours of November 3, 2009.

C. B. Oakley was preceded in death by his parents, Annie Elizabeth Brand Oakley and Oliver Clark Oakley; his twin sister, Mary Frances Oakley Cobb; and his brothers, Oliver Clark Oakley, Walker Oakley, and James Oakley.

He is survived by his loving and devoted wife of 72 years, Mildred Louise McKinney Oakley; his daughter, Annie Elizabeth Oakley Parsons and her husband, James Parsons, of Lakeland, FL; his son, Carey B. Oakley, Jr. and his wife, Joyce Adcock, of Gorgas, AL; eight grandchildren: Christopher Parsons and his wife Barbara, of Hattiesburg, MS; C. Brand Oakley, III, currently serving at Fort Bragg, N.C., for the U.S. Army; Michelle Johnson and her husband, Randy, of Lakeland, FL; Kelly Parsons of Lakeland, FL; Timothy Parsons and his wife, Michelle, of Apollo Beach, FL; Warren C. Oakley and his wife, Robbin, of Lewisville, TX; Marcus Oakley of Lewisville, TX; and his “adopted” granddaughter, Katie Keener, of Gorgas, AL; and seven great-grandchildren; as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

His life well lived included serving in the U.S. Navy from June 1935 to June 1939; working for the Alabama Power Company Gorgas Steam Plant for 38 years; serving as a Free Mason for over 50 years; serving as an active member of the Parrish United Methodist Church; serving as a caring and helpful neighbor; and serving as a role model for everyone who knew him. His 32 years following retirement were spent gardening; crocheting hundreds of afghans; weaving split oak baskets and straw baskets; crafting furniture including, often, the tedious task of bottoming of chairs; and mentoring and tutoring fellow Masons; as well as working as an all-around skilled handyman.

Funeral arrangements by Kilgore-Green Funeral Home, Jasper. Visitation 10:00 to preceding funeral service at Kilgore-Green Funeral Home in Jasper which is scheduled for 11:00 a.m. on Friday, November 6, followed by Masonic graveside service at Walker Memory Gardens in Jasper. Kilgore-Green Funeral Home, Jasper Directing