Carol Oakes

Carol Oakes, age 90, died peacefully at her residence, Sunrise Assisted Living, Salt Lake City, UT, on September 16, 2013. Together with her husband, Arthur Oakes, she raised her family in New Jersey, New York, and the North Shore of Chicago. She remained in the Lake Forest, IL area for over 40 years and had recently moved to Salt Lake City to be near her son and his family. Carol was born December 26, 1922 in Rochelle, IL and moved with her parents Ulysses Blaine and Bessie Olive Pittenger to Mount Morris, IL. After a career with the State of Illinois, she married Arthur Oakes on November 23, 1947 from whom she was prematurely widowed in 1972. She raised three children: Sandra Lynne Oakes, Barbara Anne Oakes, and Arthur Oakes. Carol resumed her career in the mid 60's becoming a property manager working for Gilbert Raynor Realty and Shell Management. She was a devoted member of the First Presbyterian Church of Lake Forest and of the North Shore Chapter of the DAR. Carol was a great cook and loved to entertain her extended family. Carol was the youngest of seven children and is preceded in death by her sister Vernie Mae Mudroch, and her Pittenger brothers Kenneth, Winston, Gordon and Preston. Carol is survived by her sister Genevieve McNames of Rockford, IL. She is also survived by her children: Sandra Oakes of Minnetonka, MN, her husband Charles Porter and their two daughters Elizabeth Porter of Bloomington, MN and Sarah Porter and her partner James Huxtable of San Fransisco, CA, and their daughter Emerson Huxtable; Barbara Oakes of Chatham, NJ, her husband Chris Asakiewicz and their three children CJ, Alexa, and Samuel Asakeiewicz; and son Arthur Oakes, his wife Lele Liu and their children Kai Li and Cameron Oakes. Graveside services are being held at 10:30 am September 25, 2013 at the Plainview Cemetery in Mount Morris, IL. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the American Cancer Society honoring Carol as a forty-one year survivor of breast cancer. Finch Funeral Home, 405 E. Hitt Steet, Mt. Morris, IL is assisting the family. Carol, her quick intelligence and wry sense of humor, will be greatly missed by her family and friends.