Mabel Oakley

Mabel Margaret “Colerick” Oakley was born to Alva Andrew and Lucy Fern (Feighner) Colerick on October 20, 1927 in Nemaha, Nebraska. She was one of 5 children.

Mabel graduated from Nemaha High School in 1946 and after graduation worked at the Nemaha Telephone Company before moving to Auburn for work. On October 9, 1950, Mabel was united in marriage to John Ervin Oakley in Hiawatha, Kansas. They had one son, John Steven Oakley.

Mabel enjoyed helping John in the garden and sharing most of their fresh vegetables with their neighbors. She was also active in the Auburn Legion Auxiliary, where for years she would get together with several other ladies to make the BBQ for the Legion games and help in the concession stand. She was also in charge of loaning and storing the hospital equipment for the Legion Auxiliary.

Most of John and Mabel’s life and extra time was spent enjoying every minute with their two grandchildren, Stacy and Kyle. Beginning in elementary school, Stacy and Kyle spent countless hours at Grandpa and Grandma’s house playing cards, games, and eating meals with them (even though they thought dinner was at 10 am and supper at 3 ). When the grandkids began playing sports, they never missed a game and enjoyed supporting their neighbors and other friend’s children as well. A highlight of Mabel’s life was when she got to watch her great grandson, Will pitch in a baseball game. She commented that she had seen her son, grandson and great-grandson all pitch in a baseball game.

Ironically, on Father’s Day this year, while attending her great-grandson’s baseball game in Lincoln and pushing her other great-grandson on her walker, she fell and broke her hip. Mabel spent time rehabbing in the hospital and at the Good Samaritan Center, however was anxious to return home to her friends at the high rise because “they were waiting for her to play bingo!” Unfortunately, Mabel never fully recovered and had to be admitted to Bryan LGH East where she passed away the morning of September 10, 2019.

She is proceeded in death by her husband, parents, two sisters: Mildred Maddox and Martha Maddox, and brother: Rex Colerick.

She is survived by her son Steve and his wife Joyce Oakley, grandkids Matt and Stacy Schieber, Kyle and Karrington Oakley and great-grandchildren, William, Sophie, Benjamin and Jack Schieber, her sister Lela Bade of Lincoln and her many nieces and nephews.

A memorial service, with Pastor Robb Maddox officiating, was held Friday, September 13, 2019 at Hemmingsen Funeral Home in Auburn. Special readings were provided by Mabel’s grandchildren. Laura Osborne was accompanist for congregational singing, and Pat Maddox played a trumpet solo. Burial of ashes will be at a later date at the Nemaha Cemetery.

Memorials are suggested to the Nemaha Cemetery or Auburn Rescue Squad.