She learned the love of sewing from her father James Wilkie Reid who was a tailor by trade. Agnes worked as a millener and also enjoyed making coats. She loved to play bridge and she was a member of the local Girl Scout council. Agnes married one William Elias Oakes and they had two children. Agnes suffered a terrible fall at age 58. She subsequently died of a pulmonary embolus perhaps caused by a fractured pelvis.