Kathleen Oakley

Vesta Kathleen Oakley, age 90 of Terrell, passed away on Monday July 21, 2014 at her home with her loving husband of 65 years, Billy Beck Oakley at her side. Kathleen was born in Pecos, Texas on October 16, 1923, the daughter of William Howard Palmer and Vesta Inez Sims Palmer. As an infant, Kathleen and her family moved to her parents’ hometown of Edgewood, Texas. The following year they moved back to West Texas, alternating from Borger to Pampa over the next several years. Her junior and senior high school years, Kathleen lived in Borger where she was voted, “High School Queen,” her junior year and, “Most Popular Girl,” her senior year. After graduation in 1942, she studied to become an aircraft draftsman at Texas Tech University. She then worked at Consolidated Aircraft in Fort Worth, and later at the Navy Bureau of Yards and Docks in Washington D.C. where she was awarded a government citation for her drafting work on the mooring plans to dock our military ships as they returned home. Kathleen later decided to leave the Navy and return to Texas where she began a career with Braniff Airlines as a flight hostess. She met many celebrities including Veronica Lake and Mr. and Mrs. Tom Braniff. On one flight, an older gentleman asked where she was from and if she knew the Oakley family in Terrell. Kathleen responded that she just moved to Terrell and didn’t know anyone. The gentleman told her that his son’s roommate from Texas A&M lived there. She could not give the man her full name as it was against company policy. The man must have seen her nameplate and gave it to Bill Oakley, an army pilot who just returned home from the war. Bill made some phone calls to Braniff, got in touch with Kathleen and the two were married six months later. The couple raised their family in Terrell and were very involved within the community. Kathleen was active in the First United Methodist Church, member and former president of the Terrell Browning Club, as well as the Social Science Club. She also remained an active member of the Braniff Clipped B’s, a former flight hostess’s organization. Kathleen enjoyed playing tennis, bridge, traveling and painting. After living on their ranch near Paris, Texas for 20 years, the couple returned to Terrell in 2006 to be closer to family. Kathleen is preceded in death by her parents and her brother Fred Palmer. She is survived by her husband Billy Beck Oakley, four children; Larry and Victoria Oakley, Sharon Oakley, Kyle and Cindy Oakley, Keith and Norie Oakley; and nine grandchildren, Ryan Shepherd, Rachel Grigsby, Aaron Zook, Justin Zook, Sean Zook, Matt Oakley, Lauren Oakley, Garrett Oakley and Connor Oakley and sister Ann Palmer. Visitation will be at Anderson Clayton funeral home in Terrell from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM on Thursday, July 24. Funeral services will be at Anderson Clayton Chapel on Friday, July 25 at 10:00 AM.