Donald E. Adams

Donald E Adams Jr. was born in Mt Clemens, Michigan on July 6, 1944, to Donald E Adams Sr. and Mary Ann Lewark Adams. His father was a fighter pilot in the air force and his mother was a homemaker. Don spent his early childhood living on military bases with his parents in Germany and posts in the United States. Don's father was killed in an airplane crash when Don was 8 and Don returned with his mother and younger siblings to live in Mt. Clemens, Michigan. Don attended elementary and middle school in Mt Clemens where he worked as a paperboy after school. When Don was 14 his mother passed away. Don and his younger sister and brothers moved to Lansing, Michigan to live with their Aunt, Uncle and cousins. Don graduated from Lansing Sexton High School in 1962. He graduated from Central Michigan University in 1967 with a double major in speech pathology and education. In 1967 Don entered the United States Army where he served for two years and did one year of duty in Vietnam. For his heroic service in Vietnam, Don was awarded the Bronze Star. In 1969 he married Lois DeMart in Arkansas City, Kansas. After they were married the couple moved to Marquette, Michigan where Donald earned a Master's Degree from Northern Michigan University in speech pathology in 1972. For several years Don worked for school districts in Michigan providing speech therapy to school children. In 1980 Don moved his family to Montana and later to Washington. In 1988 Don earned his PhD in Special Education Administration from Washington State University. He returned to Michigan and worked for COOR Intermediate School District in Roscommon, Michigan where he was Director Of Special Education. He retired in 2006. During his years in Roscmmon Don volunteered to coach several ball teams and was a proud volunteer for the "chain gang" for the local high school football team. Don loved the north woods of Michigan He loved to fly fish the Mason Tract area along the AuSable River and he tied his own flies He loved to deer hunt in both peninsulas of Michigan and on his favorite ranch in southern Kansas. Don became active in sportsman's clubs and enjoyed pistol range shooting with his fellow club members. Don was a member of the Episcopal Church He volunteered his time and services to the churches in the different states where he lived After holding his own in his battle against blood cancer for 4 years Don left northern Michigan to receive more intensive medical treatment in Memphis Tennessee; and to spend his time with his wife, sons and grandchild. After a strong battle he passed away peacefully at Baptist Memorial Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee on July 10, 2025. Don is survived by his wife, Lois; sons Brent and Cory Adams and his granddaughter, Katelyn all of Germantown, Tennessee.. Don is also survived by his sister, Nancy "Katie" Pritchard of Santa Rosa California; brothers Steven Adams (Barbara) of Marquette, Michigan; and Mark Adams (Caryn) of Mayville, Wisconsin. In addition, he is survived by many nieces and nephews. Don was preceded by his parents, Don and Mary Ann Adams; his daughter in law, Amanda Hudson Adams; his aunt and uncle, Don and Nancy (Lewark) Kessel and cousins William and Thomas Kessel with whom Don and his sister and brothers made their home after the passing of their parents It was Don's wish to be cremated and to have his ashes in interned in Clinton Grove Cemetery near his parents in Mt. Clemens, Michigan Arrangements are being arranged by Memorial Park Funeral Home in Memphis Tennessee A celebration of his life in Roscommon. Michigan will be announced.