Johnny Dale Adams

Johnny Dale Adams, 72, of Smithville, Texas, passed away on December 23, 2020 at home with his loving wife, after a difficult battle with IBM (Inclusion Body Myositis, an auto-immune disease).

Johnny was born on January 1, 1948, to Claribel Potter Adams and Ezra (Elzie) Adams in Dimmitt, Texas. After Johnny graduated from Dimmitt High School in 1966, he earned a bachelor’s degree in American History at studying at West Texas State University and Texas Tech University.

After graduation, he worked for the state department of health and human services for more than 30 years in Midland, Texas, and later in Austin, Texas. Johnny was passionate about helping struggling families in his community and was a devoted social worker, supervisor, and later policy writer and administrator for the Texas State Agricultural department, working to support and improve local food banks.

In 1970, he met his first wife Connie Patterson in Hollis, Oklahoma. Connie died in 1980 in Midland, Texas, and the couple had one daughter, Johnna Adams, in 1972.

In 1995, Johnny married again after meeting Elaine Barina in Austin, Texas, at the department of health and human services where they were both working on community assistance programs. Johnny and Elaine were happily married for more than 25 years.

After his retirement in 2010, Johnny had time to pursue a range of hobbies and interests. He was a writer and photographer for the local Smithville paper, an avid reader, a writer of poetry, a delighted world traveler with a large circle of loving friends, and above all a devoted father and husband.

Johnny was predeceased by three brothers, David “Bullet” Adams, Bobby “Cobb” Adams, and Eddie Adams.

He is survived by his wife Elaine; daughter, Johnna; and brother, Jimmy Adams. A celebration of Johnny’s life will be held later in the year.