04/12/2026
In Memoriam
Jack William Adams, former longtime Nowata, Oklahoma resident, passed away in the early hours of Wednesday, April 8, 2026, at Sunrise of Overland Park, Kansas.
Jack William Adams, son of Raymond Adams and Cloe (Bybee) Adams, was born March 14, 1928, in Blackwell, Oklahoma. He grew up on a farm in the Morrison and Pawnee area of Oklahoma. He attended the Lela and New Lela elementary schools. He joined the Marines during his senior year at Pawnee High School. He was Recruiting Sergeant and never left the Continental United States during World War II. Jack married JoAnne Ramsey in 1948. They made their home in Enid, where Jack worked as an apprentice at a local funeral home. JoAnne supported the family as a long-distance telephone operator while Jack finished college, and she completed her accounting degree. In 1954, they moved to Nowata and Jack went to work at Benjamin Funeral Service as a licensed Embalmer and Funeral Director, a post he would hold as long as the firm continued to re-new his license (over 70 years). Jack admired and considered the fine people he worked with as his close friends. He was very proud of the Community and Nowata County. Even though Jack and JoAnne both (officially) retired on December 31, 1990, Jack continued to work when needed at the funeral home and managed to take English and Computer classes at Rogers State University for several semesters.
JoAnne passed away in 2010. Their daughter, Lynda Adams, died in 2013 as well as son-in-law, John Ware, and a brother, Charley, passing in 2004, a sister, Ilene Pershall, passing in 2021, and a brother, Gene, passing in 2024.
Jack is survived by a son, Daryl Adams and Todd Linden, of Independence, Kansas; a daughter, Virginia Ware, and her husband, Lee Lawrence of Edmond, Oklahoma; a daughter, Janice Cooper and her husband, Greg of Overland Park, Kansas; and a son, Bryan Adams and his wife, Cindy of Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Grandchildren include: Ryan Ware and his wife, Meredith of Abilene, Texas; Melissa Dodson and her husband, Bart of Oklahoma City; Adam Cooper and his wife, Karlie of Overland Park; Holly Fisher and her husband, Quinten of Overland Park; and Anna Ruelberg and husband, Jeff of Olathe, Kansas; Cory Adams of Baton Rouge, Louisiana; Justin Adams and his wife, Anna of Monroe, Louisiana; and Betsy Adams of Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Great-grandchildren include: Blake, Graham, and Fletcher Ware of Abilene, Texas; Jane and Annie Dodson of Oklahoma City; Jackson and Lainey Cooper of Overland Park; Crosby, Cohen, and Miles Jack Fisher of Overland Park; Josie and Abby Ruelberg of Olathe, Kansas; and Ezra Adams of Monroe, Louisiana.
Jack’s other surviving siblings and relatives include: Kenneth (Suzanne) Adams of Owasso, OK; Sue Adams (Gene) of Owasso, OK; James Adams of Pawnee, OK; Virgil (Becky) Adams of Blue Springs, MO; Ruth McCray (Wayne) of Lubbock, TX; Lila Siler (George) of Broken Arrow, OK; and many nieces and nephews.
A visitation for Jack will be held on Sunday, April 12, 2026, at Benjamin Funeral Service, 114 W Cherokee Ave, Nowata, OK 74048, from 1:00 PM until 6:00 PM, with Jack's family present from 4:00 PM until 6:00 PM to receive guests. Funeral services for Jack will be held on Monday, April 13, 2026, at 10:00 AM at the Hillside Christian Church with Van Longbons officiating. Interment will follow at the Nowata Re-located Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of Arnold Moore & Neekamp Funeral Home and Cremation Services in conjunction with Benjamin Funeral Service. Online condolences for Jack may be left at www.honoringmemoriesbartlesville.com.
