Mrs. Collene Morrison Oakes

September 7, 1939 - February 4, 2021

Collene Morrison Oakes of Fleming Island died peacefully at home on February 4, 2021 at age 81. Born in 1939 to C.C. and Clarene in Jackson, Mississippi. Collene spent her early life in Linden, Alabama and moved to Marion as a teenager, a lucky move as it was there that Collene met the love of her life, Glen. Collene attended Perry County High School and graduated with an RN degree from Druid City School of Nursing. Collene and Glen were married for over 61 years. They raised their four children while Glen completed Navy tours that took the family from California to Maine, from Virginia to Belgium, and back to Alabama. In addition to being Mom in Chief, Collene worked as a nurse for Challenge Enterprises. She was also a skilled seamstress, the family (and neighborhood!) barber, and a hostess who could welcome and feed a crowd on short notice. She was the neighbor you sought out when your child had a temperature, the friend you dropped in on when you needed a glass of wine or just a good listener. Despite a long battle with Parkinson’s disease, Collene maintained her optimism, her loving outlook, and her sense of humor. Collene is survived by her husband D. Glen Oakes and their loving family, including her son Michael and his partner Marie, Matt and his wife Ashley, Christian and his wife Rosemary, and Kimberly and her husband Steve. She was a loving, devoted and fun grandmother to Darby and Adam, Peyton, Zeth and Nate. Collene will be missed by her loving sisters Doris Spencer, Gail Weaver, and Sarah Medley; her brothers- and sister-in-law; her many nephews and nieces; and friends. A memorial service for Collene will be held Saturday, June 26, 2021 at 2:00 p.m. at the Orange Park United Methodist Church, 2051 Park Avenue, Orange Park, FL 32073, where she and Glen have been members for many years. In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to: The Michael J. Fox Foundation 1-800-708-7644 Donation Processing The Michael J. Fox Foundation P.O. Box 5014 Hagerstown, MD 21741-5014 Challenge Enterprises (904) 284-9859 3530 Enterprise Way Green Cove Springs, FL 32043 Orange Park United Methodist Church Music Department (904) 264-2241 x245 Music Academy 2063 Park Avenue Arrangements under the care of Helm-Gallagher Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 1811 Idlewild Avenue, SR 16, Green Cove Springs, FL 32043. 904-284-9696. www.helmgallagherfh.com