James Allen Adams of Springfield, Missouri passed away at the age of 74 on November 12, 2014 after suffering from a long battle with pulmonary fibrosis. James “Jim” Adams was born on August 25, 1940 in the township of Pascola located in the Missouri Bootheel. He was the oldest son of James Henry C.D. Adams and Opal Mae Adams. He grew up and attended school in Caruthersville, Missouri with his two brothers Andy “Toot” Adams, and Bobby Adams; and his sister Shelby Adams. Though his early life was extremely labored as were those of his brothers and sister, he spoke fondly of his years growing up when he was able to play baseball which he had developed quite a talent for. It was rumored that as a young man, he could throw a strike all the way from centerfield. After graduating high school, Jim joined the U. S. Air Force where he served for a number of years in various locations in the United States and Europe. After completing his final tour, he returned to the United States and settled in Springfield, Missouri with his wife Sarah and young son Mike. He went to work for Elkins-Swyers printing company and Atlas Security Services. Much of his work with Atlas Security required him to respond to burglar alarm calls and building checks which carried an escalated risk similar to that of a law enforcement officer. Upon the recommendation of retired Springfield Police Officer Larry Burch, Jim applied for and was accepted into the 1969 Recruit Class of the Springfield Police Department. Jim worked for the City of Springfield as a Police Officer for another 26 years combined with 19 years of off-duty security work for CoxHospital in Springfield, Missouri until retirement. He found that he did not want to sit idle, so he returned to law enforcement to work as a Court Security Officer and Bailiff for the Greene County Sheriff’s Department until he was forced to retire due to complications with the pulmonary fibrosis. During this time he worked various side jobs with the U.S. Marshall’s Service, the Federal Courthouse, and as an officer for the SpringfieldMunicipalAirport. Good natured, polite, easy going, and would give the shirt off his back to help someone were just a handful of the ways that people describe Jim Adams. Even into his final minutes of consciousness he was smiling and cutting up with family and medical staff at St. John’sHospital staff In Springfield, Missouri. Jim was an active member of Cherry St. Baptist Church. He is survived by his brothers: Andy Adams and Bobby Adams; son: Mike Adams and his fiancée Connie Blake; daughter: Lori Tarbutton and her husband Bryan; eight grandchildren: Kristopher, Kurtis, Kelsie, Alex, Zachary, Sharla, Heather, and Brittany; four great-grandchildren: Auna, Avery, Evelyn, Cole. He will be greatly missed! Funeral Services will be Friday, November 21, 2014, 12:30pm, at Greenlawn Funeral Home North. Burial will be in Missouri Veterans Cemetery at 2:00pm.