Stuart Oakley (14 Sep 1939 - 12 Apr 2020)

Keep the Faith Everyone! 👍🏻🙏

Fondest Memories of you always! Glad we met up again after all those years! Treasured Memories 💪👍🏻😎

We have many fond memories of Stuart and Shirley who lived in the same road as us and became very good friends. We had holidays abroad together, weekends away in our caravans, days out on bank holidays and they used to babysit for our three boys. Days spent at their mobile home on Mersea Island were also great fun. When they became christians we saw them mature in their faith, spending time in Life Groups and Prayer Meetings in their home. Stuart became a wonderful servant and evangelist for our Lord Jesus Christ. We are very grateful to Stuart for his strong support when I worked for CAP in Colchester.
John & Elizabeth Goldring

We have many fond memories of Stuart and Shirley who lived in the same road as us and became very good friends. We had holidays abroad together, weekends away in our caravans, days out on Bank Holidays and they used to babysit for our three boys. Days spent at their mobile home on Mersea Island were fun. When they became Christians we saw them mature in their faith, spending time in Life Groups and Prayer Meetings in their home. Stuart became a wonderful servant and evangelist for our Lord Jesus Christ. We are very grateful to Stuart for his strong support when I worked for CAP.

Stuart had a heart of gold and I’ll always remember the love and kindness he showed our family in some tough times. RIP Stu 💓

Such a warm and friendly guy. I first met Stuart in 1994/5 when I was a really new Christian and he was a real encourager. I haven’t seen him for many years but have fond memories of us doing the ‘Soup Run’ together. Happy he is now in a better place, enjoying eternity with our Lord and re-united with Shirley.

Extract from Hope Church WhatsApp Group

04/05/2020, 08:35 - Deborah Hayes: Praying for Stuart xx

04/05/2020, 08:35 - Louise Groves: Likewise xx

04/05/2020, 08:44 - Sue Glanville: Praying and remembering him and playing the song looking at his photos😟

04/05/2020, 08:46 - Bryan Morrissey: Really upset that we can't say a proper goodbye 😢.

04/05/2020, 08:47 - Sue Glanville: 😥😥😥

04/05/2020, 08:48 - Merle Johnson: The photos are lovely with Stuart and Shirley 😢

04/05/2020, 08:49 - Julia Davey: Thank you Bryan for putting together the tribute. Praying for Stuart's family

04/05/2020, 08:51 - Merle Johnson: He is reunited with a healed and beautiful Shirley

04/05/2020, 08:55 - Chris Adehokey: Stuart, now at peace with God. He remains in our thoughts.

04/05/2020, 09:00 - Julie Carter-Tufnell: Praying for Stuart’s family and thinking of Stuart .
At peace with God .

04/05/2020, 09:00 - Philip Beatham: Never knew him but your prayers tell me about him. Thankyou. Philip.

04/05/2020, 09:06 - Jan Rodwell: As we remember Stuart so also we remember those who knew Stuart and are feeling his loss at this time and pray for His peace upon them.

04/05/2020, 09:07 - Sue Glanville: We met Stuart and Shirley in 1992 when we joined Colchester Community Church. They , as well as Bryan helped us move to Colchester. We had holidays together and many a Friday night sharing a drink together. They were good friends and Stuart was a great evangelist and passionate in his faith. Very sadly missed😥

04/05/2020, 09:10 - Christopher Glanville: Remembering the good times with Stuart and Shirley, camping holidays
In Swanage and Friday nights drinks.😥

04/05/2020, 09:11 - Bryan Morrissey: Hours spent getting the caravan level!

04/05/2020, 09:11 - Sue Glanville: Yes!!!

04/05/2020, 09:11 - Christopher Glanville: Yes ..it had to be just right!

04/05/2020, 09:11 - John Milbank: Remembering a man of steel and courage who has left his mark on the world and in the lives of many. Now wearing his crown in Glory holding hands once again with his beloved Shirley. Thanks Stu, it has been great.
Our love to Stuart’s family and friends and again thanks to Malcolm who has been a rock. John and Vyndia.

04/05/2020, 09:14 - Bryan Morrissey: Back in the 90s we went to the camping and caravanning show several years in a row at Earls Court. He would always ask questions about leveling.

04/05/2020, 09:16 - Christopher Glanville: I know he had to have level pitch....and it still to ages to get it right with his spirit level,, ha ha Good times

04/05/2020, 09:18 - Bryan Morrissey: I asked Stuart to be best man at our wedding. He graciously declined saying that he thought it should be my brother. His brother hadn't asked him and he said it had upset him.

04/05/2020, 09:23 - Bryan Morrissey: He was a good sailor too. On one trip we ran out of wind and almost grounded as the tide went out. Long before mobiles and we would have had to walk back to shore once the tide went out. Thankfully we did make it back without any further drama.

04/05/2020, 09:24 - Christopher Glanville: Good memories ❤️

04/05/2020, 09:25 - Julie Carter-Tufnell: Thank you for sharing these stories about Stuart.😊

04/05/2020, 09:26 - John Milbank: Many thanks to you Bryan for enabling us all to share in his memories and tributes

04/05/2020, 09:31 - Gloria: Have enjoyed reading about the real Stuart. I’d only ever known him in his latter years and to my shame we’d only had a few chats. But he did inspire me the way he worshipped on Sundays. He’ll be having a ball now.

04/05/2020, 09:32 - Deborah Hayes: Really enjoying reading about your adventures with Stuart. I met Stuart in 2001 and only knew him through his servant heart on a Sunday morning, but will always be thankful for his generous encouragement and support xx

04/05/2020, 09:36 - Bryan Morrissey: Stuart moved to West Bergholt from Enfield in 1979. He was door to door collecting money for the Prudential Insurance Company. This job meant that he was a very well known and familiar face all over the village. When Mike and Dot Cook list their house, Stuart was the one who showed them Christ resulting in their salvation. He was a passionate evangelist and his door to door job allowed him to preach the gospel to the unsaved. Shame that the law would prevent him from doing that today.

04/05/2020, 09:37 - Bryan Morrissey: *Lost their house

04/05/2020, 09:43 - Christopher Glanville: I can remember travelling to Dublin a couple of with them, the cabin crew on the flights were prime targets for Stuart to share the gospel with, and I remember him saying "they can't get away while we are in the air" 😊

04/05/2020, 09:52 - Julie Carter-Tufnell: 😊

04/05/2020, 10:26 - Carol Gosden: Brilliant! Just seen this stream of memories- Wow, there was a lot about his life that I hadn’t heard about. Even greater than I knew about. Thank you for writing these. :)

04/05/2020, 10:36 - Joan Gilbert: I remember Stuart when he used to visit my husband when he was sick and really cheered his days up.

04/05/2020, 10:37 - Christopher Glanville: Stuart could always make you laugh!

04/05/2020, 10:40 - Trevor Davies: Yes lovely man, had some good insightful, chats with him, he shared a lot about his life in the short time we knew him.

04/05/2020, 10:53 - Carol Gosden: I met Stuart at another church meeting some years before joining the Hope community and the thing that struck me about him the most was his genuine interest in others and inclusiveness as well as a strong, questioning faith. I was invited to his home to meet Shirley. His great love for Shirley and enduring hope for her healing was quite a trial but he still had a smile and liked to chat-
So glad he is able to dance again!

04/05/2020, 12:32 - Louise Groves: What lovely memories, thanks for sharing x

04/05/2020, 13:08 - John Milbank: We spent many a pleasant hour at Stuart and Shirleys home some years back. Stuart’s sense of humour and Shirley’s gentle nature and generous hospitality and grace made a huge impression on us. Stu helped us with some DIY and plumbing soon after we moved into our house in Nayland and nothing was too much for him. Some people have trod gently into the lives of people in need, but the impression they leave is deep.

04/05/2020, 15:00 - Claire Adams: Rest in peace xx

Stuart was a lovely neighbour to both me and david we have lots of fond memories of sitting in the kitchen having chats about his life and his beloved wife. Now you’ll be back reunited which I know you’ll be so happy about. RIP Stuart love is all x

Rest in peace Stuart.

Stuart, I want to say thank you so much for your friendship and the faith that shone so strongly through you. I loved our chats. I know you were ready to go home and you have encouraged me so much on my journey of faith. Your courage will always be an inspiration to me. I miss you so much.

My sadness and grief is eased somewhat by the thought of you and Mum being back together, love you both, always

We have many memories of good times with Stuart & Shirley who were members of our church. Stuart was always willing to serve in all kinds of ways and was an enthusiastic witness for Jesus his Saviour.He never missed an opportunity to share his faith.
We are confident he is now with the Lord who he loved so much

I am so very glad we got to see you last month, though you were tired you were still sparky and your sense of humour prevailed. I want to thank you for your precious gift, I will treasure him x Rest in peace Stuart.

I was first introduced to Stuart in the early 90's when we moved church from Chelmsford to Colchester and he persuaded me to become part of the Hall Prep. Team with Colin Hosier. Between us we made sure that the main hall at Philip Morant School was ready for the Sunday meeting then all put away at the end. Stuart called a spade a spade, something that I admire , for you always know where you stand. Later we shared a Life Group with Stuart and Shirley and on occasions we met at their home in West Bergholt and were always made very welcome. We moved to Spain but returned in 2009 and eventually met up with Stuart at Hope Church. There was always a good banter between us and as far as I know I never upset him or he me. Never short of ideas, a fantastic talent for fixing things especially wood/metal, and always willing to help. A sad end to a very active life, no time to say good bye in the traditional sense but I will always remember him with fondness and love.
Like a small nut from a caravan that falls on the ground
Search Stuart but never to be found
Fear not for he has a box of tricks
There is bound to be one which will give a fix
Not sure if there are caravans up there
But fixers beware
If something is broken
Healing, Stuart has spoken

I will so miss you. You have now gone to your Heavenly Home where there is no more pain, sorrow, anguish, and grief. Thank you for your kindness from the time that I have known you.

I will so miss you. You have now gone to your Heavenly Home where there is no more pain, sorrow, anguish, and grief. Thank you for your kindness from the time that I have known you.

Our condolences to Stuart's family.
We have fond memories of happy times together with Stuart and Shirley over many years. We now rejoice that they are reunited and with their Lord.