Rita Adams

(From Parker Mortuary)

Rita Jean (Romero) Adams, age 80, Joplin, passed away on Sunday, March 19, 2023 at Mercy of Joplin after a sudden illness.

Rita was born June 30, 1942 in Alamosa, CO daughter of the late John B. Romero and Rose E. (Rodriquez) Romero. She graduated from Alamosa High School before earning her Bachelor’s Degree in Education from Adams State University in Alamosa. 

She taught school in Alamosa where she met Robert Roy “Sam” Adams, and the couple got married in 1966. They moved to Joplin in 1968 where Sam was a coach for Parkwood High School and later Webb City, and Rita went to work for St. Mary’s Catholic School as a 2nd grade teacher. She worked for the school for over 30 years before retiring. She remained close with her fellow teachers over her retirement years and was always available to aide those in need. 

She was a devout Catholic and a member at Sacred Heart Catholic Church where she was active in all areas of the church from singing to helping with the Thanksgiving Turkey Dinner. Her main focus was always to be supportive of her husband and his coaching career and to love her daughters which she took great pride in doing. She was at every game cheering and wearing the team colors and was known to cook meals for the student athletes under Sam’s coaching. She will be missed by many, from her family, to her students, to Sam’s athletes.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband of over 50 years, Sam Adams who passed away on February 7, 2022, and brother, John Romero.

Survivors include her two daughters, Julie “Jules” Adams of Joplin, and Lisa Adams of New York, New York; sister, Annette Burch (Blake Tobias) of Johnstown, CO; brothers, David Romero of Austin, TX, and Ray Romero of Bellevue, NE; and a sister-in-law, Lovada Romero of Grand Rapids, MI; and several nieces and nephews.

A Funeral Mass will be Friday, March 24, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. at Sacred Heart Catholic Church with Father Francisco “Paco” Gordillo officiating. Interment will follow in Carterville Cemetery with Jeff Romero, Raymond Romero, Michael Romero, Corban Collins, Shaun Steele, and Christopher Dietrich serving as pallbearers.

A Rosary will be recited on Thursday at 6:00 p.m. at Parker Mortuary Chapel with visitation to follow.

The family requests that memorial contributions be made to the Joplin Area Catholic Schools.