Jim L. Adams

Some people leave behind accomplishments. Others leave behind stories. Jim Adams left both.

Jim L. Adams, known to most simply as Jim, passed away on May 30, 2026, in Branson, Missouri, just days before his 77th birthday. Born Jimmy Lee Adams on June 2, 1949, in St. Louis, Missouri, Jim spent a lifetime building a legacy of faith, family, friendship, and service that touched countless lives.

From an early age, Jim was gifted with a competitive spirit and a love for the outdoors. He excelled in athletics, graduating from Sullivan High School in 1967, where he earned honorable mention All-State honors in basketball. His athletic talent led him to Evangel College on a basketball scholarship, where God would place an even greater blessing in his life.

During his sophomore year at Evangel, Jim was introduced to freshman Kay Tharp. What began as a simple introduction soon blossomed into a lifelong love story.  Jim and Kay were married on August 9, 1969, at Mount Olive Church of God in Hickory Flat, Arkansas. Both graduated from Evangel College in 1971. Their marriage became a remarkable partnership that spanned more than fifty-six years—a testament to faith, commitment, and enduring love.

Jim and Kay shared a love for adventure and travel throughout their marriage. Together they explored much of North America, visited the Hawaiian Islands, and created lasting memories while traveling through many of America's treasured National Parks. One of their most cherished journeys came in 1999 when they celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary with a trip to London and Paris, fulfilling a dream of experiencing some of the world's most historic and beautiful cities together. Whether traveling across the country or across the ocean, Jim treasured the opportunity to discover new places while sharing those experiences with the love of his life.

After college, both Jim and Kay dedicated themselves to education, teaching in the Steelville, Missouri, public school system. Jim also coached basketball and baseball, investing in the lives of young athletes and helping shape future generations. Even then, he was doing what would become one of the defining themes of his life: mentoring others.

During the summers, Jim worked alongside his father, Lee Adams, at Adams Surveying Company in Sullivan, Missouri. In 1978, he assumed ownership of the family business and successfully operated it until its sale in 2006. In addition to running the company, Jim proudly served as the elected Crawford County Surveyor for sixteen years, earning the trust and respect of the citizens he served. In 1980, Jim and Kay moved their family—along with son Blake and daughter Julie—to Sullivan, where they would build a home filled with faith, laughter, and countless memories.

Throughout his career, Jim was much more than a surveyor. He was an entrepreneur, property developer, coach, teacher, and salesman. Blessed with the storytelling ability he inherited from his grandfather, George Adams, Jim could captivate a room with a tale, make strangers feel like friends, and inspire confidence in those around him. Those gifts served him well throughout his professional life, particularly in real estate and sales, where relationships always mattered more to him than transactions, although his competitive spirit made the sales fun for him and his fellow salespersons.

Basketball never left Jim's heart. Years after his coaching career began, he returned to the sidelines to coach seventh and eighth grade basketball when his son Blake played at Sullivan Middle School. For Jim, coaching was never simply about wins and losses—it was about developing character, discipline, and confidence in young people.

His greatest joy, however, was family.

Jim was a devoted husband, a proud father, and an adoring grandfather. He loved all four of his grandchildren—Skye, River, Sahara, and Canyon—with all his heart. He delighted in teaching them how to hunt and fish, sharing with them not only outdoor skills but also life lessons learned through decades of experience. Whether pursuing deer, turkey, squirrel, quail, pheasant, or mule deer, casting for trout, bass, or crappies, or traveling north on salmon or walleye fishing adventures, Jim found happiness in God's creation and treasured every opportunity to share those experiences with those he loved.

He was also one of the most loyal St. Louis Cardinals baseball fans one could ever meet. Through winning seasons and losing seasons alike, he remained faithful to the team he had cheered for since childhood.

Faith was the foundation upon which Jim built his life. He and Kay were longtime members of Temple Baptist Church in Sullivan, Missouri, where they faithfully taught the seventh and eighth grade Sunday School class for many years. Together they invested in young lives, encouraged families, and demonstrated Christ's love through both word and example. Jim was a devout Christian whose faith guided his decisions, shaped his relationships, and influenced every chapter of his life.

In 2007, Jim and Kay moved to Springfield, Missouri, and later settled in Branson in 2011. There, Jim began a successful second career as a timeshare salesman at Big Cedar Wilderness Club. True to form, he quickly became more than a salesman. He became a mentor, leader, and friend. Many sales professionals benefited from his wisdom, encouragement, and example, and many lifelong friendships were formed during those years.

Throughout his life, Jim served as a mentor and Christian influence to students, athletes, coworkers, young people, and adults. His impact cannot be measured by titles held or businesses owned, but by the countless lives he encouraged, strengthened, and inspired. He had a gift for making people feel valued and a way of leaving every person better than he found them.

Jim was preceded in death by his parents, Lee Adams and Rosalee Tyree Adams.

He is survived by his beloved wife of fifty-six years, Kay Tharp Adams; his son, the Honorable Blake Adams; his daughter, Julie Adams, and her husband, Dr. Richard C. Adams; his grandchildren, Skye Adams Parr and her husband, Colton Parr; River Adams, Sahara Adams, and Canyon Adams; his brother, Rick Adams and wife, Vicki Garms Adams; as well as many cherished nephews, nieces, cousins, and dear friends.

For those who knew Jim, memories will often begin with a story—one told around a campfire, in a church fellowship hall, while watching a Cardinals game, at a family gathering, or during a long conversation between friends. Fittingly, his own story is one worth telling: a story of faith, hard work, loyalty, generosity, mentorship, and love. His earthly journey has ended, but the lessons he taught, the lives he touched, and the faith he lived remain. He will be deeply missed, lovingly remembered, and forever cherished by all who had the privilege of knowing him.

A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, June 27, 2026, at Temple Baptist Church, 444 Beeman Street, Sullivan, MO 63080.  Visitation will be from 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. with the Memorial Service to begin at 1:00 p.m.  If you are unable to attend, the Memorial Service will be live-streamed and recorded at https://tbcsullivan.com/ and on YouTube @TempleBaptistChurchSullivanMO

In lieu of flowers, please send donations in Jim Adams's memory to Temple Baptist Church or make a direct donation here: https://tbcsullivan.com/give.