James "Jim"R. Oakes

James Robertson Oakes (August 23, 1948 – June 15,2016)

James Oakes passed away unexpectedly on June 15, 2016. He was born in Huntington, New York on August 23, 1948, spent his childhood there, and moved to Western New York with his family after graduating high school. He graduated from Alfred State, the State University of New York College of Technology and later earned his business degree from the State University of New York at Geneseo, where his father was a professor. James spent the rest of his life in Castile, NY, Perry, NY, and the greater Rochester area.

Appreciated for his quiet kindness and his loyalty to those he cared about, James was gifted with a photographic memory and the ability to quickly calculate just about any math conundrum in his head. James loved collecting baseball and football cards, studying and memorizing the statistics of each one. He spent years appreciating music and keeping track of the top 100 popular songs every week. James was a devoted Buffalo Bills fan and was able to convert his wife, Denise, to the fandom. He was always sure to attend games with his little brother and other family members each year. James was especially proud of his nieces and nephew and all of their accomplishments.

Over the years he worked for Robeson Cutlery, Champion Products, and Alliance Precision Plastics and was a good friend to many of his co-workers. He especially loved playing softball with his Robeson team. James was a giving man and was always involved in different charity events with his co-workers, loving to give back to the community.

James met Denise Gooden in 1999 as a co-worker at Alliance Precision Plastics in Rochester, NY. They went on to get married in 2009. His marriage to Denise made his later years especially happy ones. His quiet presence will be missed by those who care about and appreciate him.

James was predeceased by parents, Russell Curtis Oakes and Dorothy Holmes Oakes, sister, Shirley Oakes Reynolds. James is survived by his loving wife, Denise, brother, John (Danette) Oakes of Medina, NY, sisters, Margaret Grace Oakes of Las Vegas, NV, Barbara Anne Oakes of New York City, NY, and Nancy Elizabeth Oakes (Rick Cannon) of Woodbury, VT, nephew, Jesse (Candy) Cannon, nieces, Sarah Oakes Cannon, Anna Jennie Oakes, Laura Oakes Cannon, and Elizabeth Anne Oakes, grand-niece, Elena Cannon, and grand-nephew, Eiden Cannon.

A short service will be held on Friday, June 24, 2016 at 4:30 p.m. at New Comer Funeral Home, West Rochester Chapel, 2636 Ridgeway Avenue, Rochester, NY 14626.

In lieu of flowers, a donation may be made in his name to Lollipop Farms Humane Society of Greater Rochester in Victor, NY.