Helen Oakes

Helen B. Chumbley Oakes, of Russell Springs, passed away on Friday, June 11, 2021, at the Jean Waddle Hospice Care Center, in Somerset.  She was 76 years of age.

Helen was born on June 18, 1944, in Russell County, daughter of the late John and Ermine Roy Chumbley.  She married Lewell “Beager” Oakes on August 15, 1964, in Jamestown, Tennessee.  The couple shared over 53 years together, working the family dairy farm side by side.  Helen loved making her flower beds and enjoyed embroidering, sewing and quilting.

She is survived by two daughters, Lisa Burton (and Kelly, Jr.) and Pamela Lewis (and Curtis), both of Russell Springs; four grandchildren, Ashley Ellen Hill (and Daniel), of Somerset, Joshua Burton (and Amanda Weiand), Leonard Coppage (and Ashley) and Nicholas Coppage (and Tabitha), all of Russell Springs; a step-grandson, Alex Lewis, of Atlanta, Georgia; great-grandchildren, Cooper Hill and Kinsley Hill, of Somerset, Jaxtyn Burton and Jensyn Burton, Tyson Coppage and Blayton Coppage, all of Russell Springs; step-great-grandchildren, Ethan Coenen, of Russell Springs and Buck Lewis, of Atlanta, Georgia; two god-sons, Benjamin Oakes, of Russell Springs, and Brent Oakes, of Hernando, Mississippi; and two sisters, Modene Brockman (and Dorman), of Milford, Ohio, and Alice Marie Stephens, of Jamestown.

Along with her parents, Helen is preceded in death by “the love of her life”, her husband, Lewell “Beager” Oakes, who passed away on March 10, 2018; her daughter, Rebecca “Becky” Jo Oakes; three brothers, Ernest Chumbley, Arlis Chumbley and Carlus Chumbley; five sisters, Velna Oakes, Goldie McQueary, Dortha Hopper, Lorene Popplewell and Betty Bunch.

Funeral services will be 2:00 p.m., Sunday, June 13, 2021, at Bernard Funeral Home, with Bro. Kelly Burton, Jr. and Bro. Daniel Hill officiating.  Musical selections will be by The Singing Byrds.  Burial will follow in Parks Ridge Cemetery. 

Visitation will be held Saturday, June 12, 2021, from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at Bernard Funeral Home.

Helen’s funeral arrangements are entrusted to Bernard Funeral Home.  An online guestbook is available at www.bernardfuneralhome.com

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