After 10 years of kind and compassionate care by the staff of Hutchinson Good Samaritan, Mary Jean Oakley, 92, passed away Feb. 8, 2015. Born to Jesse Paul Park and Ruth Ardis Graham Park on Jan. 24, 1923, in Cleveland, Ohio, Mary graduated from Shaw High School, Cleveland, in Jan. of 1941.

Employed in the Casualty Office of the War Dept. in Washington, DC, during WWII, Mary moved to Sterling, Kan., after marrying Carle Baker on March 1, 1944, in Hutchinson. She later married Ennis A. Oakley on Oct. 5, 1946, in Lyons. They were divorced in 1962. The family moved to Hutchinson in 1949, where Mary held jobs at the Baker Hotel, Kansas State Industrial Reformatory, Hutchinson Public Schools office, and the Reno County Mental Health Center. In 1970, she joined the staff at the City of Hutchinson where she was the “building permits specialist” until she retired in 1988. A member of her high school swim team, she maintained a life-long interest in swimming and was a member of the YMCA for many years. After retiring, Mary pursued her interest in art and pottery with classes and firing creations in her own kiln. She was a member of the Hutchinson Art Association.

Survivors include: daughters, Paula M. Pankow of Manito, Ill., and Trish Oakley of Redwood City, Calif.; grandchildren, Theresa Hart (Jason) of Bloomington, Ill., Karol Mettelmann (Kent) of Peoria, Ill., Josh Oakley Newlin (Nicole) of Winfield, Emily Lubliner (Howard) of Lawrence, and Brad Pankow of Tulsa, Okla.; great-grandchildren, Kris Mettelmann (Amanda), Kyle Mettelmann (Sarah), Evan and Paige Newlin, and Margot and Duncan Lubliner; great great-grandchildren, Will and Nora Mettelmann, and Ashlynn and Jackson Mettelmann. Mary was preceded in death by her parents; daughter, Margaret (1998); son, Lloyd (2001); as well as her half brother and two stepsisters.

Cremation has taken place and no services are planned at this time. A Legacy Bench with Mary’s name will be arranged in her honor with the Kansas Fairgrounds Foundation. In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate contributions to the Residents’ Activity Fund at the Hutchinson Good Samaritan Center, in care of Elliott Mortuary, 1219 N. Main, Hutchinson, KS 67501.