Joel Raymond Lekites, 41, of Saint Paul, Texas, passed away unexpectedly on Jan. 13, 2023, in Dallas, Texas.
The eldest son of Joseph Paul Lekites and Donna Jean (Morton) Lekites, Joel was born in Melrose, Massachusetts on Sept. 25, 1981.
Joel was a loving soul and committed husband and father, a devoted son and grandson, a caring and kind brother, a best friend and a deeply loved cousin and uncle. He enjoyed helping others, giving with all his heart and being a mentor to those he knew and loved. He showed dedication and true commitment to excellence in all that he undertook.
He spent his early childhood surrounded by a tight-knit family and circle of friends in the Christian Hill neighborhood of Lowell, Massachusetts. Throughout his youth, the Lekites family relocated to Yorba Linda, California; Westfield, New Jersey; Missouri City, Texas; and Edmond, Oklahoma, where Joel became a lifelong friend to many.
He graduated with honors from the Art Institute of Houston, where he majored in architectural drafting, a skill that he honed and excelled at throughout his extensive career, most recently with AIS Designs Company in their Dallas, Texas, office. Joel’s craft can be seen throughout the country in places such as Boston Lowell, Massachusetts; Piedmont and Norman Oklahoma; Houston, Texas; Nashville, Tennessee; and Bristol, Rhode Island.
Joel met the love of his life, Jessica “Jessie” Cameron (Dowd) Lekites in Oklahoma in 2009, and they were married in May 2011 in Guthrie, Oklahoma. Joel and Jessie spent many nights planning for their next travel adventure, as they shared a love for travel. Some favorite places include Sebago Lake, Maine; Rye Beach, New Hampshire; and most of all, Key West, Florida, where he found paradise.
Joel adored his wife Jessie and their four beautiful children. They had a partnership that was unrivaled as they built their lives together.
Joel is survived by his wife, Jessie of Saint Paul, Texas; his 8-year-old quadruplets (aka “The J Crew”), Jaclyn Rhys, Jamison Mae, Joseph Vincent and June Merin; his mother, Donna of Edmond, Oklahoma; his brother, Jared and husband Wesley of Edmond, Oklahoma; his paternal grandparents, Robert and Jan Lekites of Lowell, Massachusetts; parents-in-law, Doug and Harriet Ervin of Piedmont, Oklahoma; several brothers and sisters-in-law; and a host of loving aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews and very close friends.
Joel was preceded in death by his father, Joseph Lekites (2022); grandfather, James C. Morton (2021); uncle, Timothy Lekites (2022); and aunt, Amy Lekites (1986).
Joel will be missed by everyone fortunate enough to have known him. A celebration of life service will be held at Montellano Event Center at 11200 N. Eastern Ave. in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, on Friday, Jan. 27 from 5-8 p.m. A livestream link below for the event is provided here for everyone who cannot attend in person to participate: https://youtu.be/7Fz8SMcMWTY
As an expression of sympathy, a go-fund me has also been established in support of Joel’s wife and children, located at https://gofund.me/0bc7ed96.
