Irma Lee Adams, 90, of Troy, Illinois, passed away unexpectedly Wed., Dec. 20, 2017, at
St. Louis University Hospital.


Irma was born May 29, 1927, in State Line, Mississippi, third oldest of Ben and Carrie Lee (Beard) Avera's eight children. She earned her Associates Degree at Jones County Jr. College in Ellisville, MS. She taught fifth grade at Leakesville, MS., grade school. While living in Mobile, Alabama, Irma met and married her husband Bruce Adams in 1949. They lived in Dallas, Texas, until returning to Mobile in 1954 when Irma's mother passed away. In 1965 Irma and her family moved to Lebanon, Indiana, where she worked at Commercial Filters until she retired in 1994. Irma lived in Lebanon until 2014 when she moved to Troy to be closer to her daughter leaving behind many friends.

Irma was preceded in death by her husband Bruce of 43 years, daughter Pamela (Vickrey) Mooney, parents Ben and Carrie, sister and brother-in-law Eris and Herbert Shelton, brother and sister-in-law Joy and Nona Mae (Nancy) Avera, brothers Raymond , Bobby and B.F. Jr. Avera, and sister-in-law Joyce (Kittrell) Avera.

She is survived by her daughter and husband Mary Ellen and Joseph Kaufman, step-son and wife Bruce Edward and Sammie Adams. Also surviving are grandchildren and spouses Austin (Rachel) Vickrey, Lindsay Cline (Jeff Wiemers), and Amy (Josh) Batts; great-grandchildren Coen and Ruthie Marie Batts, Colton Wiemers-Cline and Arlo and Penny Vickrey. In addition she is survived by brothers Don and Ken (Linda) Avera and numerous nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, January 13, 2018, at 11:00 a.m. at the Otterbein United Methodist Church, 804 S. Lebanon Street, Lebanon, IN., 46052. A luncheon prepared by the women's auxiliary will follow. Her ashes will be interred at a later date at Oak Hill Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in memory of Irma to the American Heart Association.