Oakley, Bette Jeanne 1937-2016

OAKLEY, JOHNSON, MACHAEL, FISCHER, HEMMING, KNAP, SHAW, SANFORD

Posted By: Ruth Maring - Volunteer
Date: 1/23/2016 at 19:51:53

Bette J. Oakley, 78, of Clinton, passed away peacefully, surrounded by family on Wednesday, January 20, 2015 at her daughter's home in St. Charles, Illinois.

Memorial Services will be 11:00am, Tuesday, January 26, 2016 at the Clinton Chapel Snell-Zornig Funeral Homes & Crematory. Visitation will be from 9:00am to the service time at the funeral home on Tuesday. Burial will be in the Springdale Cemetery. Online condolences may be expressed by visiting her obituary at www.snellzornig.com.

Bette Jeanne Oakley was born August 7th, 1937 in Clinton, Iowa to Eugene and Jeannette (Johnson) Machael. A 1955 graduate of Clinton High School, Bette studied music and English at the University of Iowa where she met and married Brice Oakley. After living in Iowa City and Des Moines they raised their family in her hometown of Clinton. There Bette contributed her time and talents to a number of local organizations including L'Arche, Skyline Center, The Eagle Point Nature Center, Visiting Nurses Association, City PTA, Clinton Symphony Orchestra, and others.

Bette staffed the local constituent services office of Congressman Tom Tauke, worked at KROS Radio, the YWCA, and as director of the Gateway United Way and the Paul B. Sharar Foundation of Clinton Community College. Bette was passionate about her community and served 14 years as a dedicated member of the Clinton City Council. Gardening and baking were favorite leisure activities.

Survivors include her children Kristin (Jeff) Fischer of St. Charles, Illinois, Kate Hemming of New York, New York, and Bob Oakley of West Des Moines, Iowa; grandchildren Lauren (Andrew) Knap, Sally Fischer, Tess Fischer, and Case Hemming; sister Mary (Chuck) Shaw and brother Gene (Carol) Machael of Clinton; nieces and nephews, and a special cousin Georgia (Gordon) Sanford of Sterling, Illinois. She was preceded in death by her parents and an infant son.

The Bette Oakley Memorial Scholarship Fund has been established through Clinton Community College's Paul B. Sharar Foundation, where memorials can be made to honor Bette's spirit and assist others in realizing their own personal, civic, and professional potential.