Annalee Oakes, professor emerita of nursing, died Oct. 25, 2019. She was 85 years old.
Born and raised in Iowa farm country, Oakes received her bachelor’s of nursing and master’s degrees at the University of Washington before becoming a registered critical care nurse. She joined Seattle Pacific College faculty in 1971 and earned her doctorate from Seattle University in 1988.
Before retiring in 1998, Oakes became dean of the School of Health Sciences and director of SHS’ graduate programs. She was instrumental in helping the school develop into one of the state’s premiere educational programs, and she helped establish the master of science in nursing (MSN) program in 1989.
Oakes was elected as a fellow into the prestigious American Academy of Nursing in 1990, the only SPU nursing faculty member to achieve that distinction at the time. When students named her the 1995 Professor of the Year, then director of emergency services at Harborview Medical Center, Michael Copass, said she was the “single most significant long-term contributor to the quality of Harborview’s Intensive Care Unit.”
Oakes also made valuable connections overseas. Under her leadership, the Gunma University (Japan) College of Medical Care and Technology program became a baccalaureate program in 1996.
After her SPU retirement, Oakes became a senior consultant/visiting professor for the nursing program at Northwest University in Kirkland, Washington, where she continued to foster nurse exchanges between the U.S. and Taiwan. She also participated as parish nurse for more than 10 years at Calvary Christian Assembly.
Oakes is survived by her husband of 65 years, Phillip Oakes, as well as daughters ALICE OAKES JOHNSON ’80; Joyce Oakes; and ANNE OAKES STRAND ’83; son-in-law ROGER STRAND ’83; three grandchildren, including RACHEL STRAND ’08; and five great-grandchildren.
