Harry Scott Oxley, 74, of Sheridan, WY died Tuesday, December 4, 2012, in his Sheridan home.

Harry was born June 16, 1938, in Baton Rouge, LA to Harry & Wilma (Dickerson) Oxley

Harry grew up with his aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews in New Hebron, MS. His grandmother, Mary Turnage Dickerson, who loved him very much, cared for him while his mother worked as a nurse/nanny. Harry attended elementary school at New Hebron. He attended military schooling a short time while his mother and he lived in Jackson, MS, returning with his mother to attend Junior High School in Brookhaven, MS. They moved to Cheyenne, WY when his mother married Claude Green. He met his lifelong friend Ronald D. Morris when they attended McCormick Junior High School. They went to Cheyenne High School. He received his GED in the Marine Corps. They enlisted in the Marines on November 27, 1956 and were in boot camp in San Diego, CA. After boot camp, he went to Hawaii with a guard company for a year. Then he went to Guam for a year. He was honorably discharged November 27, 1962.

After the Marines, he graduated from the University of Wyoming. He worked for Boeing in Seattle and Westinghouse in Pennsylvania. Harry received his master degree from the University of Wyoming. He taught junior high and high school for about 20 years in numerous places including Encampment and Gillette, WY. He taught college at Sheridan College, where he and Jim Nipps formed a long lasting friendship; George Fox College, McMinnville, OR; and Portland State University, Portland, OR. He received a Doctor of Mathematics from Idaho State University and then taught at Our Lady of the Lake College, Baton Rouge, LA where he met two dear friends Dr. Robert Tolke and Mike Friel, a fellow marine. He returned to Sheridan in 2009.

Harry was a 4th degree of the Knights of Columbus and a former Elk Lodge member. He enjoyed mathematical puzzles, chess, magic and learning more about the mathematical field.

Harry’s colleagues and friends had this to say about him
“Harry was a humble and honest man who did much to advance the progression of Our Lady Of the Lake College, in Baton Rouge. He was respected and enjoyed by all”
“After he left the college, we all sorely missed his presence and especially his dry sense of humor, which will long be remembered. The students missed his dedication to instruction. He was regarded to be a very valuable advisor for any and all students that came his way.” Dr. Walt Davis, Our Lady of the Lake College.
“Harry was a great one!!! But you got one thing wrong – he was actually my mentor – for college teaching and his methods and attitude towards students had a positive and significant effect on me. I always looked up to Harry and loved him like an older brother. And, he was a heck of a lot of fun.” Dr. Bob Tolke, Idaho State University
“I have memories of Dr. Oxley as a professor, a coworker and a friend. His sense of humor was dry, unique and special to him. I remember the notes he used to post on the bulletin board outside his office door – the one that comes to mind immediately is the list of unique license plate names. I remember how everyone would stand around and try to figure them out. No matter how busy he was, he was always willing to help if I had a question or problem.” Phyllis Mondt, Our Lady of the Lake.
“Harry will be missed and always loved by his family and friends and colleagues.”

Harry was preceded in death by his mother; father; aunts & uncles Maude, Nadine Goldin, Douglas Sr. and Dewitt Dickerson; and his loving grandmother Mary Turnage Dickerson.

Harry is survived by his wife Mariellen of Sheridan; son Nicholas of Sheridan; aunts & uncles John, Joe, Douglas Jr., and Mary Frances Dickerson; sister in law Charlotte Haney; nieces and nephews Paul, Mark, and Bryon Haney, Anne Haney-Thompson, Karen Kim Devincenzi, Mike Oedekoven, Shawna Oedekoven-Moen, Curtis Oedekoven and their spouses and children.

Memorial mass will be offered at 10:00am on Monday (Dec. 10th) from Holy Name Catholic Church with Father Ronald Stolcis officiating. Inurnment of his cremains will be in Sheridan Municipal Cemetery later in the spring. Arrangements are with Champion Ferries Funeral Home.

Memorials may benefit the Donor’s Choice.

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