Beatrice Ann Murphy Oakes (1941 – 2026)

Beatrice Ann Murphy Oakes, 85, of Front Royal, passed away on May 19, 2026, surrounded by her loving family.

Beatrice Ann Murphy Oakes

Born on March 6, 1941, in Warren County, Virginia, she was the daughter of the late Marguerite Willey Murphy and Lee Wilson Murphy.

Beatrice (Bea) was a lifelong resident of Front Royal, a graduate of Warren County High School, a member of Front Royal United Methodist Church, the Ladies of the Moose, and the local Red Hats group.

She treasured her family and friends and generously shared her time and crafted homemade gifts for them. Bea enjoyed cooking, canning vegetables from her garden, and crocheting baby blankets for friends, family, and future grandchildren.

Bea is survived by her daughter, Jill Slaughter (Mike); son, Ricky Oakes (Sharon); sister, Charlotte Murphy; grandson, Brad Drawdy (Jessica); granddaughters, Kellie Bachelor (Elliott), Hannah Scates (Booth), Danielle Oakes; great-grandchildren, Dean Drawdy, Penelope Drawdy, Cooper Scates, Charlie Scates, Palmer Bachelor, Pierson Bachelor and Pryor Bachelor; sister-in-law, Diane Murphy; and numerous nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Ronald Oakes; sister, Betty Hoynoski; brothers, Wayne Murphy, Ralph Murphy, Ray Murphy, William Murphy, and Roy Murphy; and half-sister, Karen Murphy.

The family will receive friends on Tuesday, June 2nd, at 10:00 am at Maddox Funeral Home, 105 West Main Street, Front Royal, Virginia. A funeral service will follow at 11:00 am with Sammy Campbell officiating. Her final resting place will be Panorama Memorial Gardens.

Pallbearers will be her nephews, Terry Murphy, Gary Murphy, Darryl Murphy, Chip Mathias, Dana Allison, Chris Murphy, Lonnie Murphy, Bruce Murphy, and Kyle Murphy.

Honorary Pallbearers will be Glenn Murphy, Barry Murphy, Edie Reil, Agnes Fullop, Emogene, and Archie Fox.

Memorial donations may be made to Blue Ridge Care, 333 West Cork Street, Winchester, Virginia 22601.