Bessie T. Adams

Bessie married Harold Adams during WWII and he was sent overseas during the war. Bessie worked at an ammunition plant during the war loading ammo. Harold was drafted and left for the war when Bessie was about 8 months pregnant with Tina. He didn’t return from the war until Tina was almost 2 years old. After the war they were trying to find their life’s work and where they wanted to live. After multiple moves back and forth between IL and AZ they ended up in Tucson to stay in 1950. Their son, Jim was about 6 weeks old when they settled in Tucson for the final move.

Bessie helped Harold with his various business ventures. Then in the late 50’s she was working at a Five & Dime store and decided to go to business school to learn accounting. She then went to work for the Tucson Clinic Pharmacy and ultimately retired from there about 20 years later.

In 1950 they started attending First Baptist Church near downtown which later became El Camino Baptist Church. Bessie was a member of First Baptist/El Camino Baptist church for 72 years. Her walk with the Lord was very important and a central part of her daily life.

She was very close with her family and friends. She had lifelong friendships with many people in her connect group “The King’s Heirs” and it was a key part of her life.

She also had a close group of friends that she played cards with every week. There were even some multi-generational friendships that developed over the years.

Bessie loved staying in touch with her many generations of kids, grandkids, great grandkids and great great grandkids. She loved getting to see them regularly via Facetime, text and of course in person.

She looked forward to and enjoyed her 100th Birthday celebration last November. She loved seeing her family and friends, some that traveled from out of state to see her and celebrate her big day.

She felt very blessed to have been able to stay/live with her daughter Tina for the last 12 years and stayed home until the end, which was very important to her.

List of Relatives deceased:

Mother: Turah Arthur, Father: Thomas Trammell

Siblings: Ellen Harris, Corabel Cassidy, Allen Trammell, Ward Trammell, Wanda Truncale

Husband: Harold J Adams

Son in law: Wayne Olson

Daughter: Karen Sue Adams

Nephews: Wayne Harris, Larry Truncale

Surviving:

Children: Christina J Olson, daughter. James Alan Adams, son. Janet Adams, daughter in law.

Grandchildren (14): Scott Wayne Olson (Kimberly Olson wife), Troy Robert Olson (Kimberly Olson wife), Robert James Olson (Tami Olson wife), Joshua Adams (Amber Adams, wife) Jaime Schumacher (Michael Schumacher husband) Jessice Litzenberg (Zach Litzenberg husband) James Adams, Jaclyn Adams

Great Grandchildren (13): Lacey Dalbey, Leann Olson, Ashlee Garrigan, Lindsay Mallams, Erin Olson, Brice Olson, Megan Olson, Reed Olson, Bryanna Olson, Emma Schumacher, Eleanor Schumacher, Evelyn Adams, Nora Adams.

Great- Great Grandchildren (3): Colbie Garrigan, Miles Garrigan & William Niggl

Nieces and nephews:

Nancy Jahr, Chari Pilcher, Jeri Jeffers, Terry Smothers, Gary Trammel, Donna Munsen, Louann Michaud, Debbie Swierczek, Paula Marley, Brian Truncale, Tommy Harris.

In Lieu of flowers donations can be made to:

Tucson Student Ministries https://www.tucsonstudentministries.org/

Gospel Rescue Mission https://grmtucson.com/

Global Training Network https://gtn.org/give