Eugene Russell Adams was born February 3, 1911 to Walter Guy Adams and Kathryn Lee Meier near Fargo, Oklahoma. He had two brothers, Roy and John, and a sister Kathryn Mae. From 1917 to 1920 the family farmed in Fargo and in Midfield, Texas. Russell attended school in Texas, Jewel School near Fargo, and graduated from Fargo High School in 1929, where he excelled in basketball, track and music. After working for his father for a year, in 1930 he began working for his uncles at Adams Brothers Grocery in Woodward, Oklahoma. On June 24th, 1934, he was united in marriage to Grace Elizabeth Hunter. Walter Eugene was born July 19, 1935. The family moved to the Keenan community west of Sharon where Russell farmed with his father and brother. Margaret Jane was born May 25, 1937. In 1939 the family moved two and a half miles southeast of Sharon to farm and ranch. Sherryl Joyce was born August 30, 1950. Russell understood that he held the land in trust for future generations. The farm to which they moved had a water right granted in 1903. Using that, Russell became one of the first farmers in the county to irrigate extensively. He started in 1952 with alfalfa and small grains. He was also among the first to establish new grasses, rehabilitate old pastures, and make puddle dams. Russell was the first farmer in the area to practice wind and water erosion control. He was awarded a recognition plaque given by a bankers' organization in 1953 for outstanding accomplishments in soil conversation in Woodward County. He built terraces at his own expense before the government allowed payment on level built terraces. He planted four miles of tree rows, some from small cedars from the old Gaston place. These trees served as land protection as well as wind breaks for the cattle. Russell was passionate about hard work and caring for the land. He loved driving by the fields, checking on the progress of the crops or status of the cattle, stopping to hold the soil in his hands, and planning for the coming year of farming. He and Grace traveled with the Tractorcade to Washington D. C. in February, 1979, in protest of the farmer's plight. He worked in weather modification beginning in 1952 when he was elected treasurer of the newly formed Woodward County Cloud Seeding Corporation. In the mid 1970's he served as chairman. Russell served for nine years on the Sharon school board and many years on the county election board. Russell built Grace's dream home in 1959 one and a quarter miles south of Sharon. He and Grace were members of the Sharon United Methodist Church, where both were active. Russell was in charge of numerous remodeling and building projects for the church and parsonage. He sang for many years in a men's quartet and directed the singing in worship. He supported Grace in many of her activities, helping her with research for and editing of the two books she authored, and working with her on the Woodward County histories published by the Plains Indian and Pioneer Museum. One of Russell's prize possessions was a violin brought from Russia by a German immigrant and given to him by his grandfather Ferdinand Meier. For many years, Russell enjoyed entertaining family and friends on this violin. Recently, he donated the instrument to the Plains Indian and Pioneer Museum in Woodward, Oklahoma. He was preceded in death by his parents, siblings, nephew J.Q. Adams, his wife, Grace Hunter Adams, and son-in-law James Barker. He is survived by his son, Walter and wife Carolyn, of Woodward, Oklahoma, Margaret, of Modesto, California, and Joyce and husband Torrey of Weatherford, Oklahoma. Survivors also include the following grandchildren: Brian Barker, Dana Adams Stone, Patrick Barker, Terri Adams Blakly, Beth Barker Glidewell, Jay Barker, Russell Barker, Christopher Curtis and Laurin Curtis. Great-grandchildren are Erin Stone Fong, Sean Stone, Katherine Blakly, Matthew Blakly, Sarah Blakly, James Lloyd Barker, Benjamin Glidewell, Collin Glidewell, Caitlin Barker, Allison Barker, Nicholas Barker, and Gegory Barker. Also surviving are nephews R.D. Adams and Howard Adams, and a niece, Virginia Adams Semrad. Services will be held Monday Jan. 28, 2 p.m. at the United Methodist Church in Sharon, OK. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be given to the Sharon United Methodist Church or a memorial of your choice.