Elmer Leon Adams

Elmer Leon Adams was born in Oklahoma City on January 6, 1954 to Elmer Adams and Wanda Nikkel Adams. Leon grew up in The Village attending Andrew Johnson Elementary School, Hoover Middle School and John Marshall High School, graduating in 1972.

Leon had a great interest in wood working and building. He started working with a great man, Don Mueggenborg, who not only taught him his trade, but became a good friend and to whom Leon saw as a father figure. Don was the best man at Leon’s wedding.

In the winter of 1978, he met his future wife, Judy Kauer, at the apartment mailbox one evening. They were married at St. Eugene Catholic Church on September 5, 1981. In his unique way of doing things, he held on to life until after midnight to claim that accomplishment of being married 44 years to the day! Leon and Judy had two children, Patricia was born in 1985 and Brady who was born in 1989.

Leon had many talents. He loved to build and built his home in 1986. He loved to turn things on the lathe. He made some beautiful wood goblets, one that he received a blue ribbon for in high school. In Leon’s shop class, he made a beautiful cedar chest. He told his shop teacher that he was going to give it to a girl. Luckily the teacher talked him out of it and it’s still at home today.

In the 70’s and 80’s, Leon had a construction company with David Cook called Adams and Cook Construction Company. Their motto was “If it’s wood, we could” and they did. Their workmanship was top notch! They worked on several businesses and houses all over the state. Leon loved to fish, smoke BBQ, make chili and ride horses. He took some great trips with his riding buddies, Dave Murray, Dave Scott and Dave Lewis, the 3 D’s, to the mountains of Colorado where he could see the outdoors and wildlife that could only be seen on horseback. He loved the outdoors and all of nature’s finest. Leon was most grateful to be reconnected with his brothers, Jody, Jerry and Jimmy Adams and enjoyed wonderful times and memories. Leon never could get enough of listening to his brothers play their fiddles and guitars and sing. His favorite music was country, blue grass and, of course, Elvis. Leon cherished the song Little Cowboy that his dad wrote, which was also the nickname his dad would call him. He loved to make chili. He became known as the Chili Man. He’d make 25-30 batches of chili every year to give out as Christmas presents or just a thank you for helping him do something. He dearly loved anything and everything western, especially rodeos. He was a proud dad watching his kids perform in the Edmond Jr rodeos. After the kids outgrew rodeos, he decided he would do open barrels himself and did so with the Heart of Oklahoma Association. Another hat Leon wore was being the moonwalk man. Leon bought Moonwalk of Oklahoma in the late 90’s. It was here that Leon and Brady really bonded and talked about life, dreams and experiences.

In the spring of 2012, Leon joined the church. He was baptized at St. Robert Bellarmine in Jones, Oklahoma on April 12, 2012. As he aged, health problems started emerging. He had a stroke, he suffered for many years with migraines, removed a pituitary cyst, back surgery, hip replacement and then cancer of the throat. Leon fought hard through all the health issues.

His greatest joy was the birth of his grandson, Caden in 2018. Caden was PaPa’s little man and his buddy when he was outdoors.

Leon was preceded in death by his mother Wanda, who, we know, was anxiously waiting for him, his father Elmer Adams, brother Jimmy, sister Lomeda and Uncle Elvern Nikkel, to whom he was very close.

Leon is survived by his wife Judy; daughter Patricia and her husband Chris and grandson Caden of Newalla; son Brady of Noble; brothers Jody Adams(wife Sandra), Jerry Adams(wife Nari) all from Nixa, Missouri; brother-in-law Pete Kauer and his wife Judy of Arlington, Virginia; Aunt Greta Nikkel of Weatherford, Uncle Lorn Nikkel of Grandbury, Texas; cousins Charlotte Edwards of Edmond, Kim and MaryLou Nikkel of Weatherford, Randy and Koko Hook of Edmond, and many more wonderful cousins, nieces and nephews.

Leon was an exceptional man with a big heart. He was always willing to help and took exceptionable pride in his workmanship and expectations. Leon did not like change and liked everything to remain the same. Leon was very loyal and a deeply sentimental man. He kept all of the cards that were ever sent to him. He loved to collect….everything and anything, especially from the people he loved. The night he died, the room was filled with love and laughter. Family and friends were telling lots of childhood stories and reminiscing of the good days growing up together. On September 5, 2025, around 12:30 am, Leon, surrounded by his wife and children, took his last breath.