James Clifford Adair, Sr.

JAMES CLIFFORD ADAIR, SR.

JERSEYVILLE - James Clifford Adair, Sr., 80, died at 6:06 p.m., Tuesday, October 7, 2025 at Jersey Community Hospital.

He was born in Mokane, Missouri on January 7, 1945, to the late Austin and Rose (Busby) Adair.

A skilled craftsman with a creative mind, he enjoyed woodworking and took great pride in his ability to build, repair, and tinker. In his younger years, he owned and operated his own home improvement business, later using those same skills to help family and friends with countless projects over the years. He also worked as a mechanic and later served as Workshop Manager at Illinois Valley in Jerseyville until health challenges led to his retirement.

He met the love of his wife, Jolene McAdams, while working for the YMCA. The two shared more than 40 years of marriage after uniting on August 5, 1983, in Jerseyville. Together, they built a family and a lifetime of memories marked by simple joys like family vacations, fishing trips, and time spent watching their children and grandchildren grow. He had a soft spot for westerns, a knack for fixing anything that needed it, and a deep love for those who called him Dad, Grandpa, and Great-Grandpa.

Surviving are his wife, Jolene Adair of Jerseyville; his children, Janelle (Brandon) Dunham and Jennifer Adair, all of Jerseyville, Charles (Charlene) Adair of Collinsville, and Wesley Adair of Cuba, Missouri; his grandchildren, Skylar, Logan, Connor, Kyleigh, Gage, Bowen, Adalynn, Shelby, Colby, Joy, Brandy, Chris, Mel, Shawn, and Lucas; and numerous great-grandchildren, including his newest great-granddaughter, Rosemary, who he was so proud to hold and welcome into the world.

Also surviving are his sister, Betty Vandelicht of Hams Prairie, Missouri; his step-father-in-law, Wesley “Wes” Powers of Jerseyville; and his brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Joetta and Bruce Pinkerton, Angela and Wes Roady, and Holly McAdams, all of Jerseyville; along with numerous nieces and nephews. 

He was preceded in death by his parents; three sons, George, Leroy, and James Clifford “Jimmy” Adair, Jr.; an infant grandson, Colton Adair; sisters, Joetta West, Violet Easley, Marie Brookins, June Furlong, and Eileen Pitts; his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Robert McAdams and Joella (McAdams) Powers; and three brothers-in-law, Michael and Robert McAdams and Richard Lockhart.

Private burial took place at Oak Grove Cemetery in Jerseyville.

Memorials may be given to the family in care of Crawford Funeral Home. 

Memories may be shared with the family by visiting www.crawfordfunerals.com 

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