Rod Russell

Rodney Carroll Russell was born on April 22, 1960, in Liberal, Kansas, to Mona Ruth (Burchett) Russell and Carroll Edward Russell.

From the very beginning, Rod’s life was deeply rooted in the Oklahoma Panhandle, where he became the third generation of Russells to call the family farm home. Located three miles west and three miles north of Hooker, Oklahoma, the farm was more than just an address. It was the backdrop of his childhood, his work, his family, and much of the life he would build. As an adult, Rod lived in the same home his grandfather had built with his own hands in the late 1940s.

From an early age, Rod also formed childhood friendships that would follow him throughout his life. Few people are fortunate enough to carry the same close friendships from childhood through careers, marriages, children, and all the changes adulthood brings, but Rod did. Those relationships remained deeply important to him, and the stories accumulated along the way were far too numerous to ever fit within a single telling.

In addition to his home and friendships, Rod’s early life was also shaped by his faith and education. He was baptized as a child and was a member of Hooker First Baptist Church. He attended Hooker Public Schools and graduated with the Class of 1978. Rod played football all four years of high school, advancing to the state playoffs during both his freshman and sophomore years. Among his favorite stories was the time he “accidentally” ran over a referee, along with his claim that his effectiveness as a tackle once resulted in burning through 14 face masks in a single game. He also dabbled in high school theater, leaving behind perhaps one of the more unusual pieces of Russell family memorabilia: a gold-painted cow pelvis once used as a stage prop.

Rod was the older brother of Travis Roy Russell, born October 5, 1965. Despite the age difference between Rod and Travis, theirs was a relationship filled with the usual brotherly mischief, stories, mishaps, and memories that only siblings can truly appreciate.

Much of Rod’s upbringing was also defined by hard work on the family farm. He grew up working alongside his father, Carroll, affectionately known by most as “Rusty,” raising dryland wheat, sorghum, and cattle.

Agriculture was woven into Rod from an early age. As soon as he was eligible, he became active in FFA, participating in numerous Supervised Agricultural Experiences and Career Development Events, including public speaking, agricultural mechanics, welding, and livestock production. He earned both his State and American FFA Degrees. One of his proudest young accomplishments came when he won the barrow show at the National Western Livestock Show in Denver with his prized Duroc, Dean, in 1976.

After high school, Rod attended Oklahoma Panhandle State University, where he earned a degree in Agricultural Business before returning home to partner with his father in R and R Farms. In his early twenties, he was also an NK Plus seed dealer.

Rod’s commitment to agriculture extended beyond his own farm. From the mid-1980s into the early 1990s, he was involved with Young Farmers and Ranchers, giving him another way to remain connected to the agricultural community and the people who shared his way of life.

His sense of service also reached beyond agriculture. During the mid-1990s, Rod served for a number of years on the Hooker Board of Education, contributing his time to the same school system that had helped shape him years before.

Rod continued farming until 2007. When that chapter of his life came to a close, he found a new passion as an owner-operator. Utilizing his hazmat endorsement, Rod hauled liquid fertilizer, natural gas, crude oil, propane, and anhydrous ammonia, with propane and anhydrous ultimately becoming the bread and butter of his career on the road.

Rod lived a colorful life and experienced more in his short 66 years than many people ever dream of, but no accomplishment or adventure meant more to him than his family, both immediate and extended.

His greatest pride was found in his three children: Erin Brody, James Weston, and Leslie DeNeane. He was affectionately known as “Papa Rod,” and sometimes "Papa Wod" to his seven grandchildren, as well as to numerous bonus children and bonus grandbabies who found themselves folded naturally into his family. That was simply how Rod loved people. If he had any sort of relationship with you, you were his for life.

Outside of work and family, Rod also loved to cut a rug. He was formally trained in country western dance and passed that skill onto all of his children and grandchildren, while also holding dance lessons in his shop at the farm leading into local school proms and other dances for any kids willing to learn. Dancing also led him to meet his partner, Jo, who brought an immeasurable amount of joy, contentment, and companionship to the last year of his life.

Rod’s faith was never something he felt compelled to live loudly. It was quieter and sturdier than that. It was deeply rooted, steady, and unwavering. It shaped the way he saw the world and the way he treated the people in it. He believed in kindness, helping others without hesitation, and recognizing the hand of God in the ordinary things around him. More than something he spoke about, faith was something Rod carried, along with his conviction to love thy neighbor.

Rod peacefully passed in his sleep from his earthly home on August 13, 2026 and was greeted in Heaven by his father, Carroll Edward Russell, and his infant sisters, Linda Mary Russell and Rhonda Faith Russell.

He is survived by his mother, Mona Ruth (Burchett) Russell of Hooker, Oklahoma; his three children, Erin (Russell) Roemer, husband Robert, and grandchildren Apryl and Robert of Somerset, Texas; Weston Russell, wife Kayleigh, and grandchildren Carmen and Maylin of Hooker, Oklahoma; and Leslie Russell wife Maggie, and grandchildren Abigail, Natalie, and Frankie, also of Hooker.

He is also survived by his partner, Jo Allen of Amarillo, Texas, brother, Travis Russell and wife Cathleen Sullivan of Norman, Oklahoma; nieces Isabella Russell and husband Andrew Cookson of Hooker, Oklahoma, Olivia Russell and Mason Landsaw, of Tulsa, Oklahoma; along with numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, bonus children, bonus grandbabies, in-laws, out-laws, and everything in between that Rod considered extended family. Because with Rod, family was never limited by blood.

Visitation will be held from 12:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Friday, August 21, 2026, at Roberts Brothers Funeral Home in Hooker. The family will receive friends from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, August 22, 2026, at Hooker First Baptist Church, with Joshua Henson, Youth Pastor/Music Director, officiating. Interment will follow at Hooker Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made in honor of Rod to the Hooker FFA Chapter and will be accepted by Roberts Brothers Funeral Home, P.O. Box 745, Hooker, Oklahoma 73945.