Felix Adamo

Felix Adamo Sr.
June 29, 1926 – October 20, 2019
If it didn't work, Felix fixed it. If it didn't exist, Felix built it. And if it was the right thing to do, Felix did it.
A native son of the Schulter and Henryetta, Okla., areas, Felix Adamo Sr. lived his entire 93 years in the community he knew and loved. Much of his youth – and into post-retirement – was spent on two wheels, traveling the local streets on one of his Harley-Davidson “cicles,” as he liked to call motorcycles.
Over the years, a favorite family story about those “cicle” pastimes involved Felix’s immigrant Italian parents, Frank and Rosa Adamo. One fine day, while riding a bus through town, Mr. and Mrs. Adamo noticed a rowdy group of young riders, revving up their Harley engines, weaving in and out of traffic, and generally showing off – most likely for some pretty girls.
One of those motorcyclists – with his dark, wavy hair and olive skin – looked quite familiar. So much so, that once Felix returned home that night, his father held up a bat to that prized Harley and promised his youngest son that, if he ever caught him riding his “cicle” like that again, the bat would meet the bike.
Seeing that he continued riding for decades and decades, Felix heeded his dad’s wise warning.
When World War II hit, like many other young patriots, Felix fibbed about his age and signed up for the U.S. Navy at 17. He served as an aircraft carrier mechanic, based out of San Diego, Calif. Trips to see his family back in Oklahoma were made on an old Harley Knucklehead – always sans helmet – that Felix’s “cicle-loving” sons wish still existed. Felix also served his country during the Korean War.
Between his military service, Felix attended Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology, where he refined his already accomplished mechanical skills. Felix eventually would work as an auto shop mechanic, operate his own Sinclair filling station and repair shop for a time and retire from the city of Tulsa, where he was a shop foreman.
Felix’s nearly 40 retirement years included motorcycle adventures to other parts of Oklahoma and beyond in addition to countless fishing trips to local ponds, where he caught numerous bass and crappie and threw back plenty of catfish.
If Felix wasn’t riding or fishing, you could find him in one of his two sheds out back, where he would repair various appliances, weld metal into his own contraptions, make custom wind chimes for family and friends or craft barbecue forks – all from spare parts picked up at various junk piles. One look at the meticulous way Felix organized his tools and the bits and pieces he used to fix anything that came his way paints a picture of the way he led his life. A job well done was a job done right.
Among Felix’s other talents: gardening and sewing! Even as he grew older, Felix prided himself on taking care of his Pine Street home atop the big hill in Henryetta. Just last year, he painted his entire carport (the same one he built himself with scrap metal) and did an amazing job! Felix also gladly used his riding lawnmower for his own grass and the yards of the “old people” on his block, always without any expectation or thoughts of recognition.
Felix lived every aspect of his life in that way – he was honest, hard-working and helpful. He loved fried chicken, homemade spaghetti, stuffed artichokes and the occasional grilled steak.
He also loved his family, and they loved him. As they mourn his loss and will miss their long-distance calls about Oklahoma weather and how “you never can tell what it’ll do,” they are comforted by the memories of an Italian-Oklahoman kid who grew up to show them right from wrong.
Felix is survived by his three adult children and their spouses, Felix Jr. (Teresa), Frank (Rene) and Jawan Brouillette (Maurie); stepson, Melvin Murchison; nine grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; two great-great grandchildren; nieces, Pat Dock of Stillwater, Okla., Judy Vandervoort of Tulsa, Okla. and Judy Hahne of Okmulgee, Okla.; and great nephews, Marshall and Matthew Dock, and Mike Sharp.
Viewing will be on Thursday, October 24, 2019 from 5-8 pm at Integrity Funeral Service.
Funeral Services are scheduled for 11:00 am, Friday, October 25, 2019 at Integrity Chapel with David Martin, officiating. Interment will follow at Westlawn Cemetery. Services are under the direction of Integrity Funeral Service.
In addition to his parents, Felix was preceded in death by his older siblings, Frank Adamo and Filipa Doctorman, as well as his wife, Agnes, whom he now joins in rest and in peace.