John Oakley

JOHN OAKLEY, 93, of South Bay Manor, died Wednesday. He was the husband of the late Inga (Miller) Oakley. Born in Providence, he was the son of the late Frederick R. and Hilda (Lucas) Oakley. Mr. Oakley was the founder of Precision Buckles Corp, a leading manufacturer of shoe buckles and shoe ornaments in the US and Europe and a holder of many industrial manufacturing patents. He was a benefactor and co-chairman of RI Life Saving Week for many years and an avid land and sea pilot. He constructed Historical Salty Acres Resort and American Saddlebred Horse Farm, 15+ acres on Bluff Hill Cove, East Salt Pond, Narragansett. He was a Coast Guard Licensed Yacht Captain, a longtime member of Atlantic Tuna Club and RI Yacht Club. He was a participant in Light Tackle Tournament, Venezuela, RI Striper Tournament, US Atlantic Tuna Tournament, Roger Williams Shark and Sword Tournament and RI Tuna Tournament. He was an avid golfer and member of Exeter, Plantation, Dorado and Boca Teca Country Clubs. He was an Inland Lobsterman and built two lobster boats at the family farm Salty Acres. He was a member of 100 Club of RI and the Wakefield Baptist Church. He leaves a son, John Oakley Jr. of Narragansett; four nieces and nephews and ten grand nieces and nephews. The funeral service will be held Monday at 11:00 AM in the AVERY-STORTI Funeral Home, 88 Columbia St., Wakefield. Burial will be in Swan Point Cemetery, Providence. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Narragansett Council Boy Scouts of America, P. O. Box 14777, East Providence, RI 02914.