Lee M. Adams, 90, passed away on September 3, at his home in Union, Missouri. He was born on December 31, 1934, in Marble Rock, Iowa, to Gerald E. and Ena L. (Ackley) Adams.

Lee grew up in Marble Rock and graduated from high school in 1952. After high school, he attended Simpson College in Indianola, Iowa, and later transferred to the University of Iowa in Iowa City, where he received a BA degree in English education. After teaching 11 years in Iowa, Lee received a teaching assistantship at Northeast Missouri State Teachers College in Kirksville, Missouri.

While in graduate school, Lee married Eva-Maria Wagner, an exchange student from Germany. After receiving his Master's degree in English education, the couple moved to Germany, where he taught in a high school for several months when their first daughter, Elizabeth (Bettina), was born in Dortmund-Hoerde. When their daughter was six months old, they returned to the United States, where Lee accepted a teaching position at East Central College in Union, Missouri. During his tenure, Lee chartered a chapter of Phi Theta Kappa national honor society in 1970 and ultimately became the coordinator of the 22 chapters of that organization in Missouri. He retired from ECC in 1997 after 26 years with the college.

Lee volunteered at Shaw Nature Reserve for 10 years and as an usher at the Fox Theater in St. Louis for 10 years. He also served on the Union Park Board, first as secretary, then vice president, and finally as president.

Lee was preceded in death by his parents, Gerald and Ena Adams; his brothers, Dean, Max, Owen, and Larry; and his sisters, Shirley and Faith. He is survived by his siblings, Jerry, Ruth, and Judi, all of whom live in the Southwest.

Lee is survived by his spouse, Eva-Maria; his daughters, Bettina (Bob) Miller, Angelika (Oliver) Tamaray, and Theresia (Matt) Thompson; and his son, Stefan (Becky) Adams, as well as his grandchildren, Megan, Ben, Jourdyn, Ainsleigh, Olivia, Liessi, Mikayla, and Rylie. There will be a celebration of life with family later this year near his hometown in Iowa, where he will ultimately be laid to rest.

Memorials in honor of Lee Adams can be made to East Central College Department of Health Information Systems.