Stephen Monteith Oakley

He graduated from Lafayette College with a Bachelor of Arts. During his studies, in the spring of 1944, he was granted a leave of absence from Lafayette College in order to enter the armed forces as a Merchant Marine. With a deep desire to support the war effort, Steve served as an Engineering Officer aboard several Victory class ships, including Fayetteville Victory, Sacona, and Comet in the Atlantic and Mediterranean war zones during WW2. Steve was called upon to serve in a dual role as a Gunnery Officer to defend his ship and was commissioned as a Lieutenant Junior Grade Officer in the United States Naval Reserves.

Steve was married to Marilyn Martens Oakley on September 6, 1947. Steve and Marilyn were married for 65 years before Marilyn passed away on January 27, 2013. The two were dedicated partners who loved each other and their five children and worked hard to build a life and family of which they were immensely proud.

He worked for Armco Steel as a Superintendent over the Shapes Department. After retiring, Steve had the opportunity to do consulting work for the Canadian government at a steel mill in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia.

Steve was an entrepreneur from the age of 13, the age at which he picked up a paper route. He was active in sports and loved playing hockey. He was the recipient of awards and medals for high school and college track and field.

After his discharge from the armed forces, Steve continued to prioritize maritime service. He was a member of the United States Power Squadron and served as Commander of the Galveston Bay Power Squadron. Later, he served as the District Commander for District 21. Throughout his years, he supported several community service and maritime-oriented projects and was appointed by Governor Briscoe in April 1976 as an honorary Admiral in the Texas Navy.

Steve was a lifetime adventurer. He and Marilyn loved to travel, and the pair traversed the North American continent as full-time RVers for 14 years. But the waters called Steve again, so he and Marilyn traded their RV for their boat and took off to explore the southern coast of the United States and beyond before they eventually settled down in City by the Sea, Texas.

Steve was an active member of the First United Methodist Church of Ingleside, Texas. He was a faithful servant and always strived to take care of others.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Arthur and Marguerite Oakley, his wife, Marilyn Martens Oakley, son Stephen Martens Oakley, daughter Cynthia Oakley Foxworth, brother Arthur R. Oakley, Jr., and fiancée Doris Kay Coulter.

He is survived by three daughters, Deborah and husband Jim Harris of Comanche, Oklahoma, Robin and husband Jim Bunch of Giddings, Texas, and Lisa and husband Minor (Skip) Swackhamer of Bayou Vista, Texas, and ten grandchildren, Stephen (Denise) Harris, Trevor (Abby) Harris, Jennifer (Art) Sengstock, Royce Foxworth, Erica Foxworth, Travis (Courtney) Placke, Garrett (Michelle) Placke, Robert (Jame’) Swackhamer, Kelsey Townsell, Andrew (Dillon Westfall-Townsell) Townsell, and numerous great- and great-great- grandchildren, nieces, and nephews.

Serving as pallbearers are Stephen Harris, Trevor Harris, Travis Placke, Garrett Placke, Robert Swackhamer, and Andrew Townsell. Serving as an honorary pallbearer is Art Sengstock.

A visitation for Stephen will be held Thursday, March 7, 2024 from 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM at Forest Park East Funeral Home, 21620 Gulf Fwy, Webster, TX 77598. A funeral service will occur Thursday, March 7, 2024 from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM, 21620 Gulf Fwy, Webster, TX 77598. A committal service will occur Thursday, March 7, 2024 from 11:00 AM to 11:30 AM, 21620 Gulf Fwy, Webster, TX 77598.