Funeral Services for Kenneth Wayland Oakes, age 90, held on Sunday, September 21, 2025, at First Baptist Church in Teague at 3:00 p.m.. Bro. Scott Matthews and Bro. Robert McDougal officiated. Wayland was laid to rest at Oakes Memorial Cemetery.
Visitation was held at Bowers Funeral Home on Saturday, September 20, 2025, from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m.
Wayland was born on March 11, 1935, in Donie, Texas. Born into a ranching family alongside his beloved siblings, Wayland’s upbringing instilled in him a joyous spirit. The bonds of this loving family were forged through laughter, hard work, and endless games of dominoes. He was raised to exemplify the best of rural Texas. He lived a remarkable life and departed for his heavenly home in the early morning hours of September 16, 2025, after 90 fruitful years on the earth. Wayland Oakes was a man who loved God, loved his family, and loved his country. As a young boy, he accepted Jesus Christ and joined Donie Baptist Church. Wayland was not a man to exhibit his faith in overt ways. Rather, he showed his love of Christ by quietly and faithfully following the teachings of Jesus in every aspect of his day-to-day life. Even faced with the adversity of surviving childhood polio, Wayland remained deeply rooted in his faith in God. In adulthood, Wayland taught a Junior boys Sunday School class in Groesbeck. He humbly served as a deacon within three beloved church communities: First Baptist Groesbeck, First Baptist Teague and First Baptist Donie. Regardless of where God led Wayland in life, he faithfully heeded the call to serve those around him in a Christ-like manner. Wayland graduated from Teague High School in 1953 and went on to attended Sam Houston State University where he obtained a bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Business in 1958. In addition, he joined the United States Air Force and also served in the National Guard for 20 years. As with many ranchers of the day, he found supplemental work in various capacities. He attended Baylor to complete a teaching certification program. Subsequently, he spent many years as a classroom teacher, school administrator, and even a bus driver. All the while, Wayland continued to grow his cattle ranching operation in the very early morning and very late evening hours of each day. He also spent many years as co-owner of the iconic Oakes & Turner Feed Store in “downtown” Donie along with his brother Craig Oakes and his dear friends Billy and Donny Turner. His heart was one of service, and he cared deeply about his students, his feed store customers, and the family he sought to provide for. However, his passion for cattle ranching never wavered and was always the ultimate beacon of his professional life. Pursuits of this nature are never without challenges, as daylight slipped away, he would sometimes find himself stuck in a pickup in the pasture, or walking away from a broken down tractor. In these instances, he would venture to the nearest house and call his loving wife, Helen Ruth. Helen would then load up all four of their girls and ride to wherever Wayland was to pick him up. Everyone can attest that while Wayland was ultimately a successful rancher, he could not have accomplished all he did without the endless support of his beloved wife Helen. As the saying goes, “Behind every successful rancher is a woman who works in town!” The partnership and bond between Wayland and Helen proved to be a winning formula. In their 64 years as husband and wife, they brought four beautiful daughters into the world. Wayland was a faithful and loving husband, and he could not have been prouder to be a father to girls. Wayland (more affectionately known as Daddy to his children) was known for his eternal optimism despite the hardships he faced at times raising four girls who were all born within 2 years of one another. He spent many hours with his daughters on their ranch land, and he poured all he had into giving his family a loving home. In the years that followed, Wayland happily welcomed 8 grandsons into the world. His example has produced a deep legacy of loving, kind, patient, and gentle yet rock solid strength within these young men. Wayland exhibited a tireless dedication to the community he lived in. He served on the Teague School board, the board of directors of the Production Credit Association, as well as on the board of directors of the Farmers Service Association. Wayland’s love for his homeplace of Donie, Texas was second to none. Recently a member of the Donie community stated, “I’m all about Donie, just like Wayland was!”. This deep sense of belonging and connection to Donie was best illustrated in a pivotal moment early on in his courtship of Helen in which he declared, “I love this country right here, and I am never leaving it!” as they gazed out over the countryside of Freestone County. Those who knew him, knew that Wayland Oakes was a social man. Everywhere he went, he was sure to make friends. Some of these friendships were formed over small moments and short interactions, while others were lifelong bonds. For years, Wayland enjoyed a regular meeting of the minds with many of his local friends each weekday morning over coffee. Whether he met you briefly or had known you for years, his friendship was one cherished by many. He was preceded in death by his parents, Tommie and Hazel Oakes; Brother, Craig Oakes; Brothers-inlaw: Tommy Baker, Waydell Reynolds, Joe Rhea; and Son-in-law, Mark Hancock. He is survived by his wife, Helen Ruth Miller Oakes; daughters, Pamela Oakes Hancock, Deborah Oakes Evans and husband Michael, Michele Oakes Gonzales and husband Jeff, Melinda Oakes Black and husband Steve; grandchildren, Terry Hancock and wife Makenzie, Travis Hancock, Trey Hancock, Brian Evans and wife Amy, J.W. Gonzales and wife Kelsey, Cody Gonzales and wife Megan, Ben Black and wife Brianne, and Cory Black; Great-grandchildren, Hazel Hancock, Aaron Evans, Brandt Evans, Preston Gonzales, Lawson Gonzales, Aubri Black and Maxi Ruth Black; Sisters, Gerrie Baker, Darlene Reynolds, and Kathy Rhea and husband Don Schill; Sister-in-law, Melodye Oakes; Brotherin- law, Gary Miller; Special care giver, Leslie Cook Solley along with numerous other friends and family. The family would like to express their gratitude to the Groesbeck LTC Nursing-Rehab for compassion and care of Mr. Oakes. If you feel compelled to donate to a cause near and dear to Wayland’s heart in lieu of purchasing flowers, please consider donating to the Oakes Memorial Cemetery Building Fund, c/o Cadence Bank, P.O. Box 711, Groesbeck, Texas 76642. Please visit our website at www.bowersfuneralhome. net to sign the online guestbook or leave a message for the family.
