Natalie Jean OAKES

OAKES, Natalie Jean HouseA former teacher in the Mesa Public Schools, passed away following complications from surgery in Twin Falls, Idaho on August 26, 2011. She was born May 25, 1942 in Lamar, Colorado to Loyd and Grace House. She graduated in 1960 from Montrose Colorado High School. Natalie married Ron Oakes in the Montrose Methodist Church on April 21, 1961. Their 34 year marriage produced three children, Cindy Sue, Stacilee and Erik. Natalie received both B.A. and M.A. degrees from Western State College in Gunnison, Colorado. She did advanced graduate work at Arizona State University. Ms. Oakes was a strong teacher who made numerous contributions to children in a variety of ways. She taught at schools in Colorado, Arizona and Nebraska. In her years with the Mesa Public Schools, she taught at Longfellow, Emerson, Salk, Hale and Keller Schools, and received a "Teacher fo the Year" recognition from Mesa Public Schools special education department. After leaving Mesa, she taught in Colorado and was a coordinator of gifted programs and held elementary school principal positions in several Colorado communities. Her professional career also included four summers as a professor at Western State College and teaching at the University of Northern Colorado Lab School in Greeley, Colorado for a number of years. She was a creative, caring and dedicated educator always putting her student's needs first. Her dedication was evident as she would frequently make "house calls" at her students' homes. Natalie was preceded in death by her parents, Loyd and Grace House, by an infant daughter, Rebecca and a grandchild, Christopher Adam Bezas. She is survived by her children, Cindy Sue Mike Bezas, Staci Dan Whiting, Erik Janna Oakes, her brother, Larry Connie House, her former husband, Dr. Ron Oakes, and nine grandchildren, Paul Bezas, Stephen Bezas, Tyler Whiting, Nicole Whiting, Summer Whiting, Megan Whiting, Dillon Oakes, and Alexandria Oakes. Memorial services were held in Twin Falls, Idaho and Colorado Springs, Colorado, with burial in Colorado Springs in September.