Mary Elizabeth Oakman

Mary Elizabeth Oakman, 76, of Fort Wayne, Indiana passed away on December 3, 2025, peacefully at her home surrounded by her family. She was born May 18, 1949, at Jellico Hospital in Elk Valley, Tennessee, to parents Francis Marian Lay and Nancy Lee (Sanders) Lay.

Mary lived in her younger years in Harlan, Kentucky, then later moved to Fort Wayne with her mother and siblings. She attended Central High School in downtown Fort Wayne, and worked for Azars as a teenager. In 1967, she married Myron Stevens, and together they started their family, but later divorced after 10 years of marriage.

In 1977, Mary met and married Glenn Oakman on September 24, 1977. They raised their blended families and lived a happy life of 30 years until Glenn’s passing in 2007. Mary was a stay-at-home, PTA, Boy Scouts mom until her youngest child entered middle school. She then entered the workforce, working as a CNA with Lutheran Homes, and then as a line worker with Mullinex Packaging, where she retired from in 2008.

In her retired years, she enjoyed time at the lake at Jellystone Camp Resort in Pierceton, IN, where she and her family had a permanent place. Time spent there along with her two brothers, who had their own places, brought many happy memories. She also enjoyed time on her daughter's boat at the sandbar on Tippecanoe Lake, and riding on her golf cart with her dogs and granddogs.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents along with her loving husband of 30 years, Glenn Oakman; brothers, Lonnie Lay, Pete Lay, and Jessie Rose Sr.

She is survived by her son, Edward (Robin) Stevens of Wesley Chapel, FL; daughters, Deborah Kay (Gary) Smith of Columbia City, IN, and Anna (Jeff) Smith of Fort Wayne; granddaughters, Kathleen Davis of Fort Wayne and Amanda (Jamie) Smith of Mooresville, IN; grandsons, Rowan Stevens of Wesley Chapel, FL,Tyler (Ava) Wade of Spain, Josh Smith and Jake (Amy) Smith both of Columbia City, IN, and Thad (Denise) Smith of Fort Wayne; as well as brother, John Rose, Sr. of New Haven, IN; sisters, Pat Phipps of Tylers, SC, and Loretta Santaiti of North Beach, MD; loving sister in-law, Margaret Rose of Columbia City, IN; and longtime friend of 57 years, Ruthy Lucas of Fort Wayne.

Visitation will be held on Friday, December 12, 2025, from 2:00 pm - 5:00 pm and 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm at D.O. McComb and Sons Funeral Homes – Maplewood Chapel, 4017 Maplecrest Rd., Fort Wayne, IN 46815. Funeral service will be Saturday, December 13, 2025, at 11:00 am, with calling one hour prior. A private interment of cremated remains will be held in Hershey, PA at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Parkview Hospice or American Legion Post 296.