August 31, 1961 ~ January 8, 2025
Brian Elliot Takala (Papa Smurf), age 63, passed away peacefully, at his home in Nowata, Oklahoma, surrounded by his friends and family. Brian fought hard until cancer took him from us.
Brian, also known as” Papa Smurf”, was born on August 31, 1961, to his father Bruno Elmer Takala, and his mother Jane Arliss Dupre. Brian and his family remained in Pensacola, Florida until he graduated from Niceville High School in 1979. After graduating, Brian went to work on fishing boats. While living by the ocean Brian worked on shrimp boats which he dearly loved. Brian started Bay fishing on the Rosie, under Captain Del Evan, where he was a deckhand and went on to fish the Trident Gulf, Stillhaul , off the Coast of Texas, under Captain Rex Bertarain of Mexico.
Brian began his career with heavy equipment, where he traveled from state to state. Brian moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma and decided that being a heavy equipment operator was the career he wanted to pursue, so that’s what he did, and he was very good at it.
After moving to Tulsa, Oklahoma, Brian met Candace Michelle Pahsetopah, they married on August 11, 2005. Brian and Candy moved from Tulsa, Oklahoma to Nowata, Oklahoma. where they resided until Brian passed away. From a previous marriage, Brian had two biological children, Connie and Amber, and Candy had four biological children, Niki, Bubba, Catie, and Jeremiah. The families blended well and became a big happy family.
Brian worked for some of the top construction companies in the United States, but Cherokee Builders out of Tulsa is where he stayed. Brian became the Superintendent for Cherokee Builders in April of 2022.
Brian loved fishing, going to the casino, smoking meat on the grill,
doing fish fries for his family and friends, going to concerts, and watching
anything that had to do with nature. Brian was an all-around good husband,
dad, and friend.
Brian is preceded in death by his grandparents, his
parents, and one grandson Michael Dodge McKlane.
Brian is survived by his wife of 20 years, Candace, his daughters, Connie, Amber, Nicole, and Catherine, his sons, Kenneth (Bubba), and Jeremiah, his grandsons Preston, Adam, Damien, Kolton, Braiden, Jeffery, Hayden, Russell, Matteo and his granddaughters Jaden, Nova, Leandra, Leilani, and Aabigail, Brain’s Sister Linda, and his nephew Neil, not to mention all of the friends and family that loved him dearly.
Brian’s Celebration of Life will be held at the First Church of God in Nowata, Oklahoma on Friday, January 17, 2025, at 2:00 pm.