Shirley Mae Adams

Shirley Mae Adams, 87, of Tama passed away on January 15, 2019, after a lengthy illness.   Funeral services for Shirley will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, January 19, 2019 at the New Life Evangelical Free Church, with Pastor Steve Brant officiating. The church is located at 211 W. 13th Street in Tama. There will be no public visitation prior to services. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed in Shirley’s name to her family, which will be later designated to the Iowa River Hospice Home and/or New Life Evangelical Free Church. For further information or to send a condolence please visit www.mitchellfh.com or call (641) 844-1234. Mitchell Family Funeral Home is caring for Shirley and her family.   Shirley was born on September 29, 1931, in Marshalltown, Iowa, to Vernon and Florence (Halsted) Elsberry. She attended schools in Ferguson, rural Marshall and rural Tama counties, and Tama High School. She lived in the south Tama County area most of her life. Shirley enjoyed spending time with her family, her church family, friends, and holiday festivities.  Shirley married Thomas A. Adams on November 14, 1948, in Toledo, Iowa. They farmed near Chelsea from 1954 to 1962 and then moved to Toledo. They operated a shoe sales and repair business in Tama until 1969. She continued as a clerk of several businesses in Tama until retiring in 1993. Shirley was the primary care giver for her husband of 57 years. She is survived by daughter-in-law Janet Adams, Naperville, IL; and children John (Pamela), Cedar Rapids; Trisha Adams, State Center; Penny (Scott) Field, Boca Raton, FL; Annette Adams, Kaneohe, HI; Paul (Carole) Adams, Parrish, FL; Susan Adams, Tama; Bryan (Kacee), Tama.  Grandchildren: Jason (Sara) Adams, Kinna, Sweden; Michelle Adams, Joliet, IL; Lenora Adams, Jefferson City, MO; Justin  (Allie) Adams, Marion, IA; Kevin (Kristy) Adams, Fort Madison, IA; Jonathan (Kari) Adams, Denton, TX; Brandon Biensen, State Center, IA; Alex Field, Denton, TX; Gwen Field, Boca Raton, FL; Heather (Brian) Brodeur, Ankeny, IA; Jeremy (Adrienne) Novey, Charlotte, NC; Joshua Novey, Los Angeles, CA; Jennifer Novey, Des Moines, IA; Kennedy Adams, Tama, IA; Nathan Adams, Tama, IA; Aaron Adams, Tama, IA.   And 15 great-grandchildren: Bryce and Blake Richmond; Meja and Albin Adams; John and Sophia Haddadin; Levi, Evan, Alex, and Anna Adams; Brady, Kylie, and Micah Adams; Lucas and Amelia Novey.  Shirley’s siblings: Irene Elsberry, Marshalltown, IA; Marylyn Walton, Whitten, IA; Duane (Marie) Elsberry, Marshalltown, IA; Sharon (Jim) Eggleston, Marshalltown, IA; Clair (Becky) Elsberry, Marshalltown, IA; Betty Minnich, Norman, OK; Roger (Kathleen) Elsberry, Des Moines, IA.  She was preceded in death by her husband, Tom; their son, Ben Adams; brother, Stanley Elsberry, and great-grandson Carter Adams.