Michael (Mike) Adams
Mike Adams leaves behind a loving wife, children, grandchildren and a great-grandchild. He may have hated running for parts, but he adored his family and loved the life he built with them.
Michael LeRoy Adams passed to be with his Lord on Saturday, March 16, 2024, on his 78th birthday.
Mike was born to parents Lennox Wilbur Adams and Mary Elaine Clark at home on a small dairy farm in Mabton, Wash. His father's health greatly affected much of Mike’s early life, and he spent much time with relatives while his mother returned to school. His grandmother, Mary Camp, made sure all her grandsons knew how to work so even as a small boy Mike was in the asparagus fields leading a donkey up and down the rows picking up the filled boxes. Mike always had a job of some kind, such as stomping mint and bucking hay around Ellensburg then working in a service station all through his high school years.
He started high school in Seattle, but with his mother and grandmother moved to this area in 1962. At Othello High School, Mike met Donna Sue Jensen who would become his wife of 57 years. Mike graduated in 1964 from OHS and then attended CWC Ellensburg, graduating in 1968 with a chemistry degree. Mike and Donna married in 1966.
In 1969, Mike was drafted into the army and ordered to Fort Lewis, Tacoma, Wash., where he served two years on the base teaching remedial reading to recruits. Once discharged, he taught special education at Davis Junior High in Yakima for one year, then moved his family back to the Othello area.
Daughter Dawn was born in 1971, and she was joined by daughter Lori in 1973. Beginning with a cattle purchase, the couple gradually purchased property and began raising wheat, corn, pinto beans, peas and radish seed then moved predominately to alfalfa hay. Son Aaron was born in October 1983.
Mike retired in 2005 but still assisted greatly in the care of all four aging parents. After a lengthy back surgery in 2018, Mike was cared for at home until frequent falls necessitated his admittance to Othello Care in 2022.
Mike was a stay-at-home, loving, hard-working family man. He loved animals, fishing, watching Gonzaga basketball with his wife and classic cars. He hated running for parts and would send anyone available so he would not have to go into town. He was a baptized member of Pilgrim Lutheran Church.
He is survived by his wife, Donna, daughters Dawn (Dan), Lori Infante (Alberto) and son Aaron, six grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Mike will be loved, remembered, and treasured forever in our hearts.