Rodney Duane Adams

What can you write what already hasn’t been said about Rodney Duane Adams? Writing an obituary about the person you spent so much time with almost feels like filling out a job application. And sometimes you are left wondering if anyone really cares where someone was born, where they went to school, etc. Although those moments in Dad’s life were pivotal, they did not make him who he was as a human being on this Earth. Ron was a native Bartian and spent the majority of his life here. Minus a short summer spent in Seattle, he never strayed too far from home. Before becoming that guy in a red suit he was Corky the Clown, a Shriner. Him and his longtime friend Boo-Boo spent years putting smiles on children (and even adults) faces. He sponsored several children that were injured/sick at Shriners Hospital in Shreveport. He also started a program to provide busing for school kids to the Shriner Circus for a day filled with fun in Tulsa. Ron was the Kiddie Park Board President for fifteen years before retiring. To this day KP will always remain one of his biggest passion projects. He worked tirelessly for that place, creating the Spook-A-Rama during Halloween, designing an entire miniature golf course, and developing a scholarship program for the student workers. Kiddie Park and all of the other people that were involved was his second home and family. His favorite foods were always homemade, and had to include some kind of meat. He also loved sushi, even the raw! Dad served on a Federal Grand Jury for an entire year, and was on call for the first half of the following year due to the excellence of their duty. Each year at Christmas he would buy several poinsettias and deliver them to special friends or if he knew a family that was in need during the holidays, he would make sure there were packages on their porch. Dad loved to watch action packed movies, and would cry at anything sappy or cute. We loved calling him our “softy”. He was also an avid bird man. After his stroke in 2020, he became enamoured with the birds in our courtyard and backyard, he began making suet feeders and even built a few houses for them. Even caught Dad one winter using my hairdryer in the freezing rain to try and thaw the birdbaths for the birds! There is so much to share and say about Ron. What a privilege to get to even say that. Dad loved this life on Earth and he did his best to never take moments for granted. He wore his heart on his sleeve and carried a hanky in his back pocket. Even when he had the red suit on, he produced a spark that was contagious. If you think about that special visit he made to your home, work, saw your kids at school or even church; remember that feeling that you had when you first saw him! That spark of joy or little tug at your heart. That's what it really is about, the real meaning of this life is love. Love of your family and friends, love of your neighbors and strangers, but most importantly the love you have within yourself to share. ** We invite family and friends to please come by our home this holiday season and share those memory with us. Ron did not want a service, rather a celebration of life, which will be held at a later date in Spring of 2025. Private graveside services will be held at another date for relatives and close friends.** Thanks for the memories!

Rodney Duane Adams

June 22, 1947 - November 13, 2024