Rex Adams

Mr. Rex Adams age 79 of Lebanon passed away on Sunday evening December 14, 2025. Rex leaves behind a legacy of faithfulness, love, hard work, and integrity.
Funeral services will be provided by the Carthage Chapel of Sanderson Funeral Home on Saturday, December 20th at 11 a.m. His son, Pastor Scott Adams will officiate the service and his nephew, Lee Adams, will deliver the obituary. Interment will follow beside his wife Mary Ann in the Gardens of Gethsemane at the Smith County Memorial Gardens.
Visitation services will be held at Sanderson Funeral Home in Carthage on Friday December 19th from 3 p.m. until 5 p.m. and again on Saturday from 9 a.m. until the service at 11 a.m. Military chapel services will be conducted by American Legion Post # 57 of Carthage.
Rex Lewis Adams was born in Pasadena, California on March 12, 1946. He was one of two sons of the late Orville Lewis Adams and Betty Louise Logan Adams. He was preceded in death by his brother, Rick Adams.
On August 13, 1966, he was united in marriage to the love of his life, Carthage native Mary Ann Kirby. She preceded him in death on July 5, 2008 following 42 years of blissful marriage. Rex was a devoted husband and father who provided a safe, stable, and loving home. He taught his children to do what is right, to work hard, and to care deeply for others.
Mr. Adams proudly served our country in the United States Navy during the Vietnam War and was honorably discharged with the rank of Ensign Third Class on August 14, 1967. For his meritorious foreign service of one month and eight days, he was awarded the National Defense Service Medal. At the age of 18 the United States Navy certified him as a hard hat deep-sea diver. At that time, he was one of only seven hundred Navy personnel to receive such certification.
He was a Master Plumber and was well known as a "Super Plumber", a title reflective of his remarkable skill, creativity, and tireless work ethic. He could design, fix, and build almost anything and continued working long past his retirement age because people trusted his name and the excellence of his work. He finally retired on July 1, 2021 at the age of 75.
As a devoted Christian, Rex maintained a deep faith in God and was compassionate, loyal, generous, intelligent, strong, and always willing to give more than he received.
Rex is survived by his two children who were the light of his and Mary Ann's life, daughter, Kelly Adams of Lebanon; son, Scott Adams and wife Kelly of Lafayette, Louisiana; his sister-in-law, Brenda Adams of Panama City, Florida, nephew, Lee Adams of Panama City, Florida; four grandchildren, Aniston, Preslie, Hudson, and Carsten Adams.
Rex Adams lived faithfully, loved deeply, worked honestly, and finished well. His legacy will continue through the family he loved and the many lives he touched.
Pallbearers: Bruce Johnson, Jimmy Hobbs, James Bryant, Lee Adams,
Carsten Adams, & Hudson Adams