Sandra Oakes

Sandra Oakes, 63, passed away September 11, 2026.

Sandra was born August 27, 1963, to Donna and Lewis Thompson. Sandra had four brothers and one sister, John, Dennis, Leslie, and Daniel Thompson and Susan Kendrick. Sandra lived much of her early life on ranches near Ione and Hepner. Sandra also spent 14 years traveling around Nevada, Washington, and Texas, building power lines. She lived in Boise when she was not on the road constructing power lines. Sandra then worked for Ore-Ida at the Ontario potato processing plant for many years. Sandra, in recent years, was a rural mail carrier for the United States Postal Service. Sandra really enjoyed her work and her coworkers.

Sandra married Charles Oakes October 20, 2018. They lived in Ontario, Oregon until they recently moved to Ola, Idaho. Sandra never had any children, but loved them dearly and babysat for many. Sandra believed that since she was not blessed with children on earth, that she would have children in heaven. We hope and pray that children bring Sandra joy in heaven.

Sandra, the last 10 years of her life, traveled extensively, visiting Rome and Venice many times, taking cruises in the Atlantic, Carribean, and Mediterranean, as well as yacht trips to the San Juan Islands. Sandra hunted exotic game, including multiple hunting safaris to Africa, as well as New Zealand and several North American hunts, including bison in North Dakota, Axis deer in Maui, and Pythons in Florida. Sandra liked the sun and made many trips to Hawaii, on the big island, Oahu, and Maui. We also went to Barbados, Dominican Republic, Costa Rica several times, and Zihautenejo, Mexico. Sandra loved big game fishing and caught 8 foot sail fish, rooster fish, 55 inch needle fish, 75 pound tuna, mahi mahi, red snapper, and many more. She had a large marlin on the hook, but the line broke when the fish went under the boat. Sandra was a good rifle shot, taking almost all of her over one dozen exotic international trophies with one shot kills. She also shot practical pistol competition and sporting clays.

Sandra dearly loved her family, including her siblings, nieces, nephews, and grand nieces and grand nephews and enjoyed her mother’s visit to Sandra’s new home in Ola days before Sandra’s death. Sandra thoroughly enjoyed her (step) grandmother’s role in spoiling Hunter and Anna Oakes’s daughter, Aliya, picking up clothes and toys for her on all of her travels.

Sandra will be missed by her many friends, her large family, and by her surviving husband.

Sandra’s Celebration of Life is 11:00 AM, Thursday, September 24, 2026, at Ola Community Center, in Ola, Idaho.

Arrangements are in the care of the Potter Funeral Chapel.

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