James Adams

James L. Adams, a retired Michigan State Trooper, entered Heaven on the morning of Christmas Eve at Munson Medical Center where he had been a patient for the past two weeks. He was a husband, a father, a grandfather, and even a great grandfather, who took every opportunity to joke around and make others smile. Also a pilot and a guitar player who had his own band, Jim was a Military Policeman in the Air Force which he left to join the MSP. Jim lived life to the fullest and truly loved being a Trooper. He joined MSP from Lyons in June 1964 and served at Battle Creek, South Haven, Flint, Capitol Post, Lansing Post and was a departmental Pilot Team Member, and also member of the Underwater Recovery Team retiring in September 1980. Jim was born in Neelyville, Missouri, on August 20, 1936 to Griff and Alma Adams who predeceased him. He was raised in the Lyons area but spent time in all the towns where he was assigned as a Trooper. After leaving the MSP, Jim moved back to the Flint/Flushing area where he met and married Patsy on December 10, 1983. James and his wife Patsy moved to their home on Torch Lake to spend their retirement. He is survived by his wife Patsy, children Martin, Ann, and Jeff, step daughters Janet Johnson and Diane Dobis, stepsister Janet Lesterman, as well as many grandchildren, great grandchildren and cousins who will all miss him dearly. He was preceded in death by his parents, his first wife Barbara Schmidt and step daughter Susan Thomas-Myers. His family knows he had a special place in his heart for each one of them as they do and always will for him. He will be greatly and deeply missed, but never forgotten. Jim had a deep faith and had found a church which he dearly loved, First Congregational in Central Lake, where Funeral Services will be held on Saturday, January 3rd at 3 p.m. The family will receive friends from 1 to 3 p.m. also at the church. There will be a Celebration of Life Memorial Service sometime in the summer. Donations may be made in his name to the Paul Butterfield Memorial Fund at the Michigan State Police or the Wounded Warriors Project. Envelopes will be available at the service. Arrangements have been handled by the Central Lake Chapel of Mortensen Funeral Homes. Please sign his online guestbook www.mortensenfuneralhomes.com.