Mr. Mark James Oakley, 73 of San Diego CA, formerly of Byesville

Mark James Oakley passed away on October 29, 2026, at Naval Medical Center San Diego. He was 73 years old.

Mark was born October 7, 1953, at the Naval Hospital in Memphis, TN, son of the late James C. and Gloria A. (Davis) Oakley. A Navy kid, he lived all over including Morocco, Spain, Florida, then Byesville, OH, where he graduated from Meadowbrook HS in 1971 and then attended Bowling Green University. He married Lu Ellen Larrick, and they had three children: Christopher Mark, Paul James, and Avri Lane Oakley.

He served in the US Navy as a nuclear electrician aboard submarines, taught at Submarine Training Facility, and advanced to Senior Chief before being accepted into the Limited Duty Officer program where he was commissioned in 1990. He then qualified as a Surface Warfare Officer and fondly remembered driving the ship into busy Hong Kong harbor amid small floating craft.

Mark graduated with a finance degree from Golden Gate University. When he retired from the US Navy in 1998, he participated in various ministries including Knights of Columbus (former Grand Knight of Cabrillo Council), Lay Eucharistic Ministry, Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults catechism, parish council – all through Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Church where he was a parishioner.

In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by his daughter Avri Lane (Oakley) Nieto and brothers Paul “Tony” Oakley and Patrick Arthur Oakley and nephew Paul Aaron Kackley.

Mark is survived by his wife of 29 years, Deirdre [Gutierrez], of Spring Valley, CA; three sons, Christopher (Jennifer) and grandchildren Dakota, Kacie, Kourtney, Alexsis of Byesville, OH, Paul (Anastacia) of Goose Creek, SC, and grandchildren Tylar and Trevor, and Laz of Spring Valley, CA; sister Teresa (Raymond) Kackley of New Concord, OH; brothers Scott (Carol) Oakley of Senecaville, OH, John (Judy) Oakley of Guntersville, AL, Matthew (Marcia) Oakley of North Garden, VA, and James (Sherrie) Oakley of Nashport, OH; several brothers- and sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, godchildren.

In lieu of flowers please consider a donation in Mark’s name to Father Joe’s Villages of San Diego (homeless outreach), Kitchens For Good, or Mass intentions at Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Church.

(East County Mortuary of San Diego CA is handling arrangments for the family. www.eastcountymortuary.com)