Leonard Earl Adair

LEONARD EARL ADAIR

Leonard Earl Adair, 76, went to be with Jesus on May 7, 2024.  

He was born in Boonville, Missouri to John H. and Edris M. (Sartain) Adair on January 9, 1948.

He gave his heart to Christ and was baptized at a young age.  He met his wife-to-be, Linda, at church in 1971, and they married in 1972.  He has been attending Kansas City Church the last 31 years, and has always been willing to serve as much as he could.  

He leaves behind his beloved wife, Linda, of 51 years; his daughter, Heather (Adair) Howell (Chris); grandson Caleb Howell; granddaughter Myra Howell, of Kansas City; son Robbie Piel (Catherine); granddaughters, Alexandria and Julia; and grandsons, Franklin and Joseph, of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.   His father, John, preceded him in death.  He also leaves behind his mother, Edris Hogue; brothers, Roy (Pat), David (Kelly) and Gale; sisters, Beverly Wolfe (Reggie), Debbie Washam (Rick), Diana Hopkins (Oran), Jan Decker, and Teresa Winney (Kevin); mother-in-law, Jean Jaquess; brother-in-law, Jimmy Jaquess (Debi); and many nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins, and dear friends.  

He was proud to have served in the United States Army.  He served in Vietnam for one year.  While there, he was exposed to Agent Orange, which caused multiple health issues in his latter years.  He didn’t begrudge one minute.  He said he would go again if needed, if called.  He was VERY patriotic and loved his country, and felt honored to be called a Veteran.  

He worked for the Jones Store after returning from Vietnam.  He worked for Monumental Life Insurance for a short time before following in his dad’s footsteps in the painting trade.  He was a painter for many years, working as a sandblaster at power plants, first in La Cygne, Kansas, then in Iatan, Missouri.  He then worked for Newton Painting for several years, specializing in commercial and industrial coatings.  He continued with his expertise working for Goens Brothers for several years until the business shut down and he took that as a cue to retire.   He was well known in that industry and continued to receive calls from business associates asking for advice many years after he retired.

Most people called him Earl.   He was very outgoing and never met a stranger.  He was kind and generous and had a big heart for those in need.  He didn’t give to receive recognition but gave out of the goodness of his heart.  

Earl loved his family dearly, and he came with a large family.  He was the eldest of nine, all of whom he doted on.  As the elder brother, especially after their father passed away, they often came to him for advice, suggestions, and ideas.  

Earl loved tractors, trailers, and any equipment he could buy that would help make doing things easier.   He also loved cars and had almost finished restoring a 1954 Chrysler New Yorker before his health prevented him from doing more.  He also loved to find cars for sale on the internet and re-sell them or find them for friends and family that needed a good used car.  He loved a good deal.  Earl and Linda enjoyed many vacations together traveling to different favorite spots. They frequently went to South Padre Island and were often joined by other family and friends.  They always included their favorite places to eat along the way as they traveled to their destinations.

Above all, he loved the country.  His life dream was to retire to the country.  He almost always had a place in the country where he could spend weekends relaxing, fishing, going to auctions, fiddling around with something, or just visiting with friends and family.

He will be missed immensely by those left here, but we are rejoicing knowing that he is in Heaven with his Savior, as well as his dad, his father-in-law, grandparents, favorite aunts and uncles, and grandbabies he didn’t get to meet on this Earth.

A Celebration of Life is scheduled for 5:00 PM on Thursday, May 16, 2024 at Kansas City Church, 7700 N. Church Rd., Kansas City, MO 64158. A visitation will be from 3:00 - 5:00 PM prior to the service at the church. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the church.