Melvin D. Adams April 27, 1926 – August 20, 2011

    Melvin D. Adams, 85, of Mount Ayr, Iowa died August 20, 2011 at Mount Ayr Health Care in Mount Ayr.
    Melvin was born April 27, 1926 to Luther David and Evalena (Pottoff) Adams. He graduated from Hatfield high school in 1944. Melvin served in the U.S. Navy during WWII as a gunner’s mate on the USS Vella Gulf Aircraft Carrier from 1944 and was honorably discharged in 1946. Melvin married Kathryn Louise Rinehart on February 27, 1946 in Hiawatha, KS.
    Melvin loved the simple things in life. He loved his family and especially enjoyed his grandchildren. He enjoyed his main occupation in life of farming and ranching. He was an avid horseman and loved his horses and working cattle with them. He enjoyed boating on Loch Ayr and fishing. He also enjoyed hunting and his hunting dogs. He was an athlete and enjoyed playing slow-pitch softball and shooting baskets with his grandkids. Everyone who knew Melvin, knew that he could putter with the best of them. They all said if he had baling wire and duct tape, he could fix anything.
    He thoroughly enjoyed playing cards. For his 85th birthday in April, he traveled to Loveland, Colorado to spend time with family and a great time was had by all playing pitch, seeing the sites and just spending precious time with his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
    Melvin was a member of the Mount Ayr Sportsman Club, the American Legion Post #172 and the well-known ‘Dead Beat’ club.
    Melvin is survived by spouse Kathryn; children David Ray Adams (Martha), Rodney Dee Adams (Vicki) and Rhonda Sue Cooper (James Butler); grandchildren Cale Adams, Joel Adams, Melanie (Joe) Hurt, Nicole (Wolfgang) Wegner, Kelli Adams, Justin Adams, Robert (Angie) Adams, Evin Cooper, Jason (Melissa) Butler, Jennifer (James) Tull and Joni (Jeremy) Gillam; great-grandchildren Lillyon Adams, Logan and Cheyenne Hurt, Kylee and Austin Hix, Ashlyn Wegner, Grace Johnson, Hannah and Brady Adams, Blake Butler and Gavin and Haylee Gillam; brother Calvin (Roena) Adams, and sister Bonnie Whited.
    He was preceded in death by his parents; infant son, Bobbie Joe Adams; granddaughter, Kendra Rae Adams; sister, Beaulah Kemerling, and brothers-in-law, Donald Whited and Albert Kemerling.
    Memorials are to the American Legion Post #172.
    Funeral services were held Wednesday at Watson-Armstrong Funeral Home.