With love surrounding him, Samuel Carroll Oakley passed from this world on February 13. 2026 and was surrounded by his loving family in heaven. It was too soon for his beloved wife of 47 years, Jennifer Scharr Oakley who wished she could have had many more years with such a wonderfully loving husband and father.

Along with his wife, Sam is survived by his sons, Samuel Harrison Oakley (Kelly) and Bradford Scharr Oakley (Catie); grandchildren, Kaia Oakley, Kora Oakley, Flynn Oakley and Alexandra Oakley, Sister-In-Law Barbara Oakley and many nieces and nephews and many other family and friends who will greatly miss him.

He was born October 25, 1949 in Bristol, Virginia, a son of the late Edmund Harrison and Jeane Sutherland Oakley. In addition to his parents, Mr. Oakley was predeceased by his siblings, Harrison Clark Oakley and Nancy Oakley Ratner.

Sam began business as the owner of O'hlees Station in Bristol, Tennessee, where he met his wife.  He then moved to Northern Virginia and was a cabinet designer for over 45 years in the Washington metropolitan area and also had served his country in the Army National Reserves.  He, along with his wife, owned The Surrey House Restaurant & Country Inn for 10 years before retiring to South Carolina.  He had a great love for golf as well as coaching both sons in basketball and baseball over the years.  He also loved his summers on the James River in Scotland Warf, Virginia for 30 years as well as living on the Waccamaw River in South Carolina. Most of all Sam was a loving husband, father, grandfather and friend and along with his family had a great love for all the many dogs he rescued over the years.  Leaving behind him his three companions of Amos, Lyla and Baxter.

To his friends he would cheerfully say "see you on the other side" and be sure to greet you!

In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting that donations be sent to Little Sunny Acres, 2300 Allen Dew Rd, Conway, SC 29527.

Burial will be private.

Please sign a guestbook at watsonfuneralservices.com. Watson Funeral Services and Crematory, 2300 Hwy 378, Conway, SC is serving the family.