Obituary of Bonnie Oakes

Bonnie May Oakes passed away, surrounded by family, on September 30, 2023 at Alpine Way Retirement Home. Bonnie was born July 13, 1924 in Port Angeles Wa to Clarence Cullison and Ada (Grall) Cullison. When Bonnie was about 2, her family was moving from Oklahoma to back to Port Angeles, when they stopped downtown Shelton to camp at Kneeland Park. The family then made the decision to stay in Shelton. Bonnie was one of six children, raised in Shelton on Capitol Hill and attended Shelton schools. She met her future husband John Oakes at a dance in Shelton Valley at the Grange Hall. Bonnie and John were married in 1940 at the Baptist Parsonage; their marriage lasted 50 years. During the years Bonnie and John were raising their family, Jim, Gary and Cheryl, she worked outside the home at Lumbermen’s Mercantile, Needham’s Grocery, and Safeway where she retired from after 30 years. Among many things, Bonnie will be remembered for her generosity, hospitality, her love for her family, her quick wit and good sense of humor. Also Bonnie and John loved to dance and were usually found dancing and having fun every Saturday night. In retirement years, Bonnie and John loved to travel in their motor home. Bonnie is preceded in death by her husband John, sons James and Gary, and grandson Jesse Weston. Surviving her is her daughter Cheryl Waite, (Mark Thompson), daughter in law Carol Oakes, granddaughter Shannon Mattson (Michael), grandson J. R. Oakes, (Shannon), grandson Kelly Weston (Jayce Justin) , great grand’s Duncan (Maura), & Jesse Mattson, John, Keogan, Ellie and Kaitlin Oakes. A Celebration of Life will be held for Bonnie on January 14, 2024 at 12:00, at the Arcadia Fire Hall, 2970 SE Arcadia Rd, Shelton WA 98584