LARNED — John Charles Adams was born Dec. 14, 1934 in Macksville, Kan. and died in Wichita, Kan. on Aug. 1, 2018. He was the only child born to James Samuel Adams and Helen Louise McMorran Adams. John graduated Larned High School in 1953. He attended the University of Kansas and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and continued his education receiving a Master’s Degree in Social Work. While in attendance he was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity and served as President. He was on the KU swimming and diving team and lettered, and played intramural tennis. He was a lifelong Jayhawk.
He returned to Larned where he began his career as a Social Worker at the Larned State Hospital, later becoming Chief Social Worker for 41 years and over the course of those years he held multiple positions on the Kansas State Board of Social Work. He spent two years as acting Superintendent of the Norton State Hospital as well as Larned State Hospital. Because of his love for his work he continued to work for a total of 54 years at the hospital. John was an Outreach
Instructor and taught classes for the University of Kansas, Tabor College, Barton County Community College and Fort Hays State University.
John believed in community service and knew the importance of giving back. John proudly served on USD #495 School Board,
including two terms as board president. He was a member of Community Hospital Organization and was part of the committee to establish and build Pawnee Valley Community Hospital. He served on both advisory boards for St. Joseph Memorial Hospital and PVCH.
John was a 54 year member of the Larned Rotary Club and served on the Santa Fe Trail Center Board of Directors, Larned Municipal Swimming Pool board, and was a member of the Larned Airport Board. John was the Chairman of Pawnee County KU Honors program for 47 years and was recognized in 2005 with the Mildred Clodfelter Alumni Award for his dedication.
John was a Deacon and an Elder in the First Christian Church. Because of his faith and talents he was blessed with, he was led to teach Sunday School, as well as sing in the choir.
John easily shared his gifts of love, loyalty, humor, wisdom, patience and kindness with all who knew him. This was most especially true with his family. On April 16, 1960 he married his wife Nancy Ann Rickart. They shared 58 years of marriage and love. John was passionate about family and was a devoted husband, loving father and adoring grandfather. John was an avid reader who recognized the importance of education. He never stopped learning. He enjoyed WW2 history, especially airplanes, anything KU, sports, music, wood working, sailing, traveling, friends, and just “puttering” around. John knew the importance of “living in the now” and did it with grace. He was the epitome of a True Gentleman.
Left to mourn his passing are his beloved wife, Nancy; son, Kevan and his children Lyndse (Casey) McPheeters, and great-granddaughter, Lillian, Kansas City, Mo.; Tayler (William) McLaren, and great-grandchildren Sadie and James, Savannah, Ga.; Samuel Adams, Daytona, Fla., daughter, Amy Seeman and her fiancé Brian Pivonka, Larned, Kan., and her daughter Katie (Brian) Carlton, Larned, Kan.; many beloved cousins who are like brothers and sisters; Ann (Bob) Yeager Stanton, Kansas City, Kan.; Dr. Richard (Patsy) Yeager, Portland, Ore.; Loring McMorran Dixon, Ashburn, Va.; Layne (Rick) McMorran Bautista, Seattle, Wash.; Robert (Susan) McAdoo, Nakomis, Fla.; William (JoAnn) McAdoo, Wichita, Kan. He was preceded in death by his parents; and his brother in spirit James Cleland.
Funeral service will be 2 p.m. Monday at Beckwith Mortuary Chapel with Pastor Damon Bradley presiding. Visitation will be 1 to 8 p.m. Sunday at Beckwith Mortuary. Burial will be at Larned Cemetery, Larned, Kan. Memorials may be given to the First Christian Church, Santa Fe Trail Center, Jordaan Library, or the Alzheimer’s Association all in care of Beckwith Mortuary, PO Box 477, Larned, KS. 67550. Condolences may be left for family at beckwithmortuary.com.

Funeral arrangements provided by
Beckwith Mortuary
P.O. Box 477
Larned, KS. 67550
Great Bend (Kan.) Tribune, Aug. 3, 2018