Richard E. Oakes, 95, of Pine Meadows in Northland Estates, Watertown, NY, passed away peacefully October 17, 2026 at Hospice of Jefferson County at the Ellis Farm surrounded by his beloved family.

Born on September 11, 1931 in Watertown, NY, son of Earl and Ethel (Fuller) Oakes, he graduated from Watertown High School in 1950.

Following school he entered the US Navy Reserves before going active duty in 1951. He served during the Korean War and was honorably discharged in 1955.

Upon returning home he moved to Syracuse where he worked at General Electric for three years. He married Marie E. Simonds on Jul 9, 1955 at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Church, the couple then resided in Syracuse. Upon returning to Watertown in 1958 Richard worked for Borden’s Milk Plant for 10 years, Jefferson County Soil and Water District for a couple of years before going to work for the City of Watertown Department of Engineering from 1966 until he retired in 1986. During that time he and his wife purchased a dairy farm on Bush Road in Watertown which they owned and operated from 1965 to 1975. Following his retirement from the city the couple moved to Lockport, NY for Marie’s promotion as the Niagara County Executive Director for USDA Farm Service Agency where Richard worked for Pratt & Huth Associates for two years as a construction inspector. They returned to Watertown and he continued to work as an inspector for Bernier Carr & Associates until he fully retired. Marie retired as Jefferson County Executive Director from USDA Farm Service Agency in October of 1997. After they both retired from their jobs starting in 2002 they took on caring for their 4 local great grandchildren from 6 weeks old a position they took pride in & loved for the next 18 years.

Richard and his wife enjoyed spending summers at their camp at Brennan’s Beach, they enjoyed their travel trailer experiences from New York to California, he was a member of the Watertown American Legion Post #61, 3rd Degree for the Knights of Columbus, was a communicant of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Church where he served a Eucharistic minister, served on their finance committee and was chairperson of the church’s BINGO. He and his wife were active members of the Watertown Elks Lodge #496 where he was a trustee and the couple were awarded “volunteers of the year” award. He served as treasurer for the City of Watertown CSEA.

Among his survivors are his beloved wife Marie E. Oakes, Watertown; his children, Dennis (Jan) Oakes, Ocala FL, Marylee (Gary) Avery, Watertown which resided with him and Marie starting in 2019 as their caregivers; his daughter-in-law, Brenda Barr Oakes, Oceanside CA; six grandchildren, Trisha(Brad) Dain, Oceanside CA, Paul (Tammy) Oakes, Fort Worth TX, Heather Avery, Watertown, Erica (Bill) Mushtare, Black River, Brad (Stacie) Avery, Sodus, Cindy (Jeff) Boyd, Stanton CA, two sisters, Virginia (George) Colesante, Watertown, Joan (predeceased Richard) Hopseker, VA, 14 great grandchildren, Sam (Maria) DeMareo, Rochester, Hannah Snyder, Sodus, Tyler (Megan) Oakes, CA, Shannon Jones, TX, Paul Oakes, TX, Kaitlyn Dain, CA, Kennedie (Daniel) Vasquez Mushtare, Poughkeepsie, Braeden Mushtare, Black River, Kailey Dain, CA, Lauren Natali, Watertown, Taylor Dain, CA, Gianna Natali, Watertown, Jeffery Boyd, CA & Ryan Boyd, CA, 9 great great grandchildren, Kier Jones TX, Jayden Jones, TX, Citlaly (Evelyn) Cruz Pacheco, Poughkeepsie, Xavier Jones, TX, Kamren Jones, TX, Savannah DeMareo, Rochester, Madisyn Oakes, CA, Myla Renata Vasquez Mushtare, Poughkeepsie & Clara Oakes, CA, several nieces and nephews.

Arrangements are with the Hart & Bruce Funeral Home.

A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at the Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Church on Saturday, October 24, 2026 at 11:00 a.m.

Beginning at 10:30 a.m. the Watertown American Legion, Knights of Columbus and Watertown Elks Lodge will conduct their respective civic ceremonies at the church. Military Honors will immediately follow Mass at the church.

The family will then receive relatives and friends in Dostie Hall at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Church for a luncheon and time of fellowship.

Burial in St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery in Evans Mills will take place at the convenience of the family.

Donations may be made to Hospice of Jefferson County, 1398 Gotham St., Watertown NY 13601 in Richard’s name.

The family wants to extend our appreciation to Vickey who took care of Richard in the Homecare program for 8 months and the entire staff in the residence quarters for his last 2 months of life. We also want to extend our appreciation to the Veteran’s Administration.

Online condolences may be made at www.hartandbrucefh.com