Obituary of Marge Oakes

Marge Oakes

1928 ~ 2025

Marguerite Georgina Oakes was born at home on February 12, 1928 in Vancouver, BC to George and Margeurite Clarkin and passed away on August 25, 2025 in the Stettler Hospital at the age of  97 years.

From Vancouver, the Clarkin Family moved to Edmonton, AB and then to a homestead near Meanook, AB. Marge’s love for animals came from being an only child and her playmates were various cats, dogs and farm animals. Marge’s schooling was   taken in Meanook School from Grade 1 to 9. She had many interesting trips to school as her mode of transportation was an old race horse her dad bought from the race track. When Marge turned 16, her mom hooked up the horses and wagon to get her to her first job as cook at the Athabasca Hospital in the kitchen. Here she learned to whip up such delicacies as creamed peas, pork and beans on toast and boiled cabbage with cheese.

In 1945 Marge met a dashing young man by the name of James “Jim” Oakes at a local dance. James was so smitten with Marge that he walked from the lumber camp where he was working into Athabasca to ask for her hand in marriage. They got married on a very rainy June 1, 1946 at the Clarkin Farm. On July 2, 1948 their first daughter Yvonne was born followed on January 7, 1957 with Donna completing the family.

Marge faithfully followed Jim and his career with the gas company all over Alberta. Every town they lived in, Marge found a group of ladies to coffee with and created many life-long friendships. When Jim retired they left Three Hills to return to Stettler to be close to Donna and her family and back to the town they always considered home. Marge and Jim shared a love for camping, hiking, music and being with friends. Their family was what mattered most to them.

Marge is survived by her loving daughter Donna (Lloyd) Larsen; grandchildren Kyle Larsen, Amy Lynn (Mark) Way and Sheila Grossenbacher; great-grandchildren Hunter Way, Wade Grossenbacher, Cole (Cora Rosychuk) Grossenbacher and Sydney Grossenbacher; niece Margaret Oakes; many other relatives and friends.

She was predeceased by her husband James “Jim” Oakes; parents Margeurite and George Clarkin; numerous other family and friends.

Come & Go Coffee Celebration

Saturday, September 6, 2025

From 2:00 P.M. to 4:00 P.M.

Stettler Funeral Home, Stettler, Alberta

Donations made in Marge’s memory are gratefully accepted to the Stettler Health Services Foundation – Long Term Care, S.T.A.R.S. or to a charity of choice.