Oakley Gene Conklin was born into God's loving arms on Friday, July 29, 2022, in Lafayette. He was the newborn son Nicholas Allen and Nicole Brooke (Atkins) Conklin, of West Lafayette. He was a much-loved and longed-for little boy with sandy blonde hair weighing in at 6 pounds, 2 ounces and measuring 17-3/4 inches long. In addition to his parents, he is survived by his half-siblings, Aubrey, Brantley, and Ashlynn Conklin; maternal grandparents, Melinda and Donald Townsend; paternal grandparents, Betty (Anthony) Conklin, and Ronald Conklin; maternal great-grandmother, Wilma Thomas; paternal great-grandmother, Rose Conklin; aunts and uncles, Stephanie (Dave) Cacy, D.J. Townsend, Shelby Townsend, Ronnie (Kayla) Conklin, Tanner (Brittany) Conklin, Adam (Brittany) Conklin, Alesha Davis, and Zack Conklin; and several cousins and extended family members. Oakley was welcomed to his Heavenly home by his maternal great-grandparents, Mary "Nana" & Joe Townsend, paternal great-grandparents, Gene Conklin, Shirley Hancock and Ernie Sutton as well as many extended family members. .