Funeral services for Helen Ruth Miller Oakes, age 93, were held on Wednesday, February 25, 2026, at 2:00 p.m., at First Baptist Church in Teague. Bro. Benny Mize officiated. Interment followed the services at Oakes Cemetery in Limestone County. Visitation was held on Tuesday with the family present from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at Bowers Funeral Home.
Helen Ruth Oakes was born June 17, 1932, to loving parents Lawson and Ruby Miller at their home in South Freestone County. She passed away from this world peacefully on February 22, 2026 surrounded by her daughters in her home in Groesbeck, TX. She was blessed with 93 years of life.
Beautifully dressed by her mother and affectionately called Pumpkin by her father, Helen became a big sister with the arrival of her brother Gary at age 11. She was a happy child who fell in love with reading at a young age. Her father’s work in the oilfield meant many moves for her family during her school aged years. Helen always recalled the optimism she felt when arriving at a new school. While there would be challenges to meet new people and make new friends, the promise of books she had yet to discover in her new library cast a hopeful light on the transitions. Before long, she would have scoured the collection and read them all as she had done many times before. This love of reading connected Helen to a deep desire for an education. She graduated high school at 16 and set out for Dallas for secretarial training and found work as a nanny. After some years, life led her to Houston where she continued to work and pursue a degree. She attended classes at Sam Houston State University at a time when it was remarkable for a woman to do so. She worked to earn money and paid for her college classes along the way. When the opportunity presented itself, Helen transferred to Baylor University where she completed her bachelor’s degree.
Life took Helen many places as a child and as a young woman. However, the place she identified as home never waned. South Freestone County was a place she always longed to settle. For a time, Helen was on the verge of traveling overseas to teach. But, God provided a road home so to speak when He brought Wayland into her life. Bonding over their value of education, desire to have a family, and connection to Donie, Wayland and Helen quickly recognized that they were a divine match. And so, they set forth to create a wonderful life with each other in the peaceful rolling pasture land they loved so dearly.Once the story of their family began, it built rather quickly. Helen’s daughters Pam, Debbie, and twins Melinda and Michele were all born within 2 years of one another. There was much to juggle with 4 children so close together, but as they say- the show must go on! Helen was masterful at balancing motherhood, a career, and of course, her calling as a true rancher’s wife. She taught school for a total of 24 years and served as the postmaster for another 20 years as well.
Many would describe Helen as unflappable. She was as strong as any Christian woman that has ever walked upon the Earth. Her family was molded by her deep, unshakable faith. Her knowledge of the Bible was extensive, but her walk in Christ did not end with the words on the pages of a book. She taught children’s Sunday school, adult Sunday school, led GAs, and helped establish the Awana program at Donie First Baptist Church along with her husband Wayland. She was a member of the First Baptist Church of Donie for many years and found a church home in First Baptist Church of Teague later in life as well. Both held a special place in her heart.
Helen’s daughters rewarded her handsomely with 8 grandsons. Her pride in these young men was evident. She found unending joy in loving and supporting these grand boys for all the days of her life. Her influence on them is undeniable as they have all grown into caring and compassionate individuals, each with very special qualities of their own. She came to know 8 great grandchildren as well, with a 9th on the way. Legacy of this nature was a gift not lost on her.Helen Oakes led a life full of challenging work, but she always made room for fun and games. As any good South Freestone County native of that day would, she learned to play dominoes and was a formidable opponent. She learned to play bridge while riding a bus to work in Houston. In later years, she relished in a regularly schedule bridge game with a tightly knit group of friends for more than a decade. As for living life to the fullest, Helen left no stone unturned. Even in her last year with us, she dressed in theme and handed out candy to passing trick or treaters in her Groesbeck neighborhood. Her zeal for life was evident until the end. She will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her.
She is survived by four daughters, Pamela Oakes Hancock, Deborah Oakes Evans & husband Michael, Michele Oakes Gonzales and husband Jeff, and 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, Maxi Ruth Black, and Brentley Gonzales; one brother, Gary Miller; sisters-in-law, Gerrie Baker, Darlene Reynolds, Kathy Rhea and husband Don Schill, and Melodye Oakes; numerous other friends and family.
Mrs. Oakes was preceded in death by her husband of over sixty-four years, Wayland Oakes; parents; son-in-law, Mark Hancock; brothers-in-law, Craig Oakes, Tommy Baker, Waydell Reynolds, and Joe Rhea.
The family wishes to thank two special caregivers, Leslie Cook and Olga Evans for their dedication and quality care for Mrs. Oakes.
The family requests memorials be made to First Baptist Church, P. O. Box 791, Teague, TX 75860.
Please visit our website at www.bowersfuneralhome. net to sign the online guestbook or leave a message for the family.
