Thomas D. Oakley, 85

Obituary

Thomas “Tommy” (Pump Handle) D. Oakley, 85, of Madisonville, KY, passed away on Tuesday, July 7, 2026, at Baptist Health Deaconess in Madisonville.He was born on September 3, 1940, in Dixon, KY, to the late Dorothy Ezell Oakley and Thomas E. Oakley. He worked as a coal miner for Island Creek Coal Company at Retiki mines and he retired from Ken America Coal Mines. He was a street rod enthusiast and loved going to car shows. His greatest joy was spending time with his family. Tommy was a member of Earlington First Baptist Church in Earlington, KY.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his son, Jason Scott Oakley.

He is survived by his wife of fifty-six years, Sheila Blades Oakley of Madisonville; sons, Dwight (Lori) Oakley and Jeff (Kim) Oakley, both of Madisonville; daughter, Kimberly (Greg) Gates of Hanson, KY; sister, Phyllis (David) Knight of Lake Okeechobee, FL; grandchildren, Jared (Kai) Oakley, Kara (Blake Harrell) Oakley, Jason Oakley, Lucas (Haley Higdon) Oakley, Lindsey Oakley, Will Thomas Pruitt, Tyler Gates, and Reese (Carly Pollard) Gates; great-grandchildren, Kanaan and Bentley Harrell, Keelan, Kaelin, and Kinzley West, and Knox Parker; and his niece, Jennifer (Charlie) Burrell.

A funeral service will be held at 1 p.m. on Friday, July 10, 2026, in the chapel of Harris Funeral Home with Pastor Keith Harris officiating. Burial to follow at Forest Lawn Memorial Gardens in Madisonville.

Visitation will be from 11 a.m. until the funeral hour on Friday at the funeral home.

Pallbearers are Jarrett VanCleve, Lance VanCleve, Dan Wiley, Bruce Kittinger, Lucas Oakley, and Jason Oakley. The honorary pallbearers are Greg Flener and Jared Oakley.

Online condolences may be made to the family at www.harrisfuneralinc.com

Thomas D. Oakley, 85

Obituary

Comments

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

On The Air At WTTL

Now Playing On 106.9 WTTL

Now Playing On Nash 104.9

Now Playing On The Light 103.5