Roy Howell Oakley passed peacefully at home on Christmas afternoon December 25, 2021 after a long battle with Parkinson's Syndrome. He was born June 13, 1932 in Lampasas County to George Albert Oakley and Carrie Caroline Mallett, and was a grandson of George Monroe Oakley and Frances Watson Oakley.
Roy’s father died of pneumonia when he was just two years old. He was raised in Burnet and Lampasas where he graduated from Lampasas High School in 1950. Soon after graduation, Roy was drafted into military service and spent most of his tour in France and Germany constructing communication lines. Upon returning from the service he attained his Pharmacy degree from the University of Houston. After returning to Burnet to help his mother, he worked with David Allbritton to form Allbritton & Oakley Pharmacy on the square. The name was later shortened to A&O Pharmacy.
In 1963 he met Norma Sue “Pokey” Gibbs Snider. She was raised in Burnet and later returned with her three young children Eddie, Sue, and Alan after her husband M.L. Snider was killed in a private airplane crash. Roy and Pokey’s first date was attending a Burnet High School football game. They later married and had two sons, George and James.
While raising all five kids, Roy served 12 years on the Burnet School Board, several years on the Burnet City Council, and a time as Mayor Pro Tem. He believed strongly in the Salvation Army organization and for many years headed up work with their activities and fundraising. He was a former member of the Burnet Chamber of Commerce and was President in 1964-1965. Roy once served on the local Draft Board and was a former director on the Federal Land Bank Board. He spent many years on the board of the Seton Highland Lakes Health Fund and the Burnet Industrial Foundation. Just this past summer Roy was one of the ones named by the Burnet County Historical Commission as one of their Burnet County Citizens of Note. The Oakleys were members of the First Baptist Church of Burnet.
In the late 1990s Roy sold the drug store, and he and Pokey indulged in their love of travel. He continued to be an avid hunter, fisherman and tennis player, and later picked up pickleball at the YMCA.
After Pokey passed away in August 2012, Roy met and married Freddie (Jackson) Watson Dunlap. They recently celebrated eight years of marriage, and Roy came to know and enjoy her children, Katherine, Mark, and Gary.
Roy is survived by his wife Freddie, his children Eddie Snider and wife Cynthia Ross-Snider, Sue Brunson and husband Doug, Alan Snider and wife Kathy, George Oakley and wife Tammye, James Oakley and wife Julie, and Freddie’s children Katherine Culver and husband Norman, Mark Watson and wife Kathy, and Gary Watson and wife Terresa. Altogether there are 21 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren. Roy is also survived by his only brother Willis Albert “Diddar” Oakley and his children Rick, Wayne, Chris, and Lisa.
A visitation for friends and family will be held Wednesday, December 29th, from 5 to 7 p.m. at Clements-Wilcox Funeral Home. Roy’s funeral and the celebration of his life will be held Thursday, December 30th, at 10 a.m. at the First Baptist Church in Burnet with Reverend Doug Lindley officiating. Interment will follow at Pleasant Hill Cemetery near Lake Victor.
Pallbearers are George Oakley, James Oakley, Eddie Snider, Alan Snider, Doug Brunson, Mark Watson, Gary Watson, and Norman Culver.
Those choosing to make memorial contributions may make them to St. Jude’s Children Hospital or the Salvation Army.
Condolences to the family may be made to www.clementswilcoxburnet.com
