Oakley, Mary Jean

Funeral services for Mary Jean Oakley, 79, of Tipton, who died Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2011, at Mercy Iowa City, will be held 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 23, at St. Mary's Catholic Church, Tipton, with Father David Hitch officiating. Visitation will be one hour before the service Sunday.

Mary Jean Brannan, daughter of William and Ina Palm Brannan, was born Dec. 18, 1931, in Guthrie County, Iowa. She was a graduate of Audubon High School. Mary was united in marriage to James Alvin Oakley Sr. on Oct. 25, 1951, in Audubon, Iowa. She was employed as office manager for Dr. Owen Duffy & Associates in Iowa City for 20 years. She also worked for the Tipton Community Schools and Jameson Corporation.

Mary was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church, Tipton, and St. Mary's Guild. She served as church secretary and volunteered every Wednesday for Bingo at Cedar Manor Nursing Home.

Mary is survived by her daughter, Sherri Havel of North Liberty; son, Jerry (Carol) Oakley of Tipton; grandchildren, Brandon (Kelly), Holly (Casey), Bronwyn, Chelsie (Joshua) and Matthew; great-grandchildren, Tyler, Isabella, Addison and Hayden; sisters, Karen Elfring of Cottonwood, Ariz., and Patricia (Laverne) Deist of Audubon; brothers, Duane (Barbara) Brannan of Pacheco, Calif., and James (Vickie) Brannan of Audubon; sisters-in-law, Norma Norris of Des Moines and Janice Oakley of Audubon; and brothers-in-law, George (Lois) Oakley and Lloyd (Geneva) Oakley, both of Audubon, Wayne Seime of Austin, Texas, and Don Zwahlen of La Habrae, Calif.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, James Oakley Sr.; son, James “Buddy” Oakley; sisters, Elaine Baier, LeAnn Zwahlen and Wilma Seime; twin brother, Jerry Brannan; sister-in law, Dorothy (Frank) Schmidt; and brothers-in-law, Howard Oakley and Allen Oakley.

Memorials may be made to the Mary Oakley Memorial Fund in memory of Mary.

Online condolences may be shared at