Mary Lee Adams

Mary Lee Adams went to her heavenly home Sunday Dec. 6, 2020. Born Mary Lee Tucker, to Delbert Lee and Minnie Emaline (Engleman) Tucker on March 3, 1926, she was a lifetime resident of Great Bend, Kan. Mary married James F. Adams in Lindsborg, Kan., April 15, 1948. They had enjoyed friendship since childhood, and she survived him after a happy 66-year marriage. She is survived by one daughter, Alice Butler-Smith and husband Christopher of Lawrence, Kan., as well as many nieces, nephews, and cousins. She was also preceded in death by one sister, Martha Richards.

Mary was known for her kind and gentle spirit and sense of humor, a fundamental abiding love for Jesus and serving him, a deep belief in the virtue of America, her devotion to her family, a passion for country living, and her natural creativity.

Mary was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution and a descendent of a small, committed group of pioneers who, after moving West, decided to settle what would become Great Bend. Her family were farmers from the time they settled in Kansas. They based their life on strong Christian principles, a strong work and service ethic, and the family farm where Mary learned these values defined who she was and the things she loved most.

She received Jesus as her savior while a child at Mt. Pleasant United Brethren Church where she and generations of her family had worshipped. She and James remained active there and were enthusiastic supporters and participants in a variety of missions throughout their lives. While remaining active at Mt. Pleasant, she and James also enjoyed years of friendship with Faith Community Church.

Mary was active in Republican Party campaigns over the years and was proud to have been an Air Force wife for the years her husband served during the Korean War. A talented artist throughout her life, she attended Bethany College in Lindsborg, enjoying studying art with the daughter of Birger Sandzen, Margaret Sandzen Greenough, and later with local Great Bend artist Orlin Baker. She valued a long, close friendship with fellow artists The Four Aquarians plus One, of sharing their work with each other, and exhibiting their work as a group.

Memorial service will be at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, Dec. 12, 2020, at Faith Community Church, Great Bend. The sanctuary is configured to maximize the health of attendees in light of concerns associated with COVID, service will be live streamed on the church’s Facebook page. Private family burial took place in Great Bend Cemetery. Alice requests memorials to Bibles for the World in lieu of flowers, in care of Warren-McElwain Mortuary, 120 W 13th Street, Lawrence, Kansas 66044.