Linda Kay Adams

Linda Kay Adams, beloved wife, mother, and grandmother, passed away in Ft. Myers, FL on May 11, 2026, at the age of 84. A funeral service in her honor will be held at 10:00 AM, Saturday, June 20, 2026, at Broadway Christian Church, 1205 S. 9th Street, Mattoon, IL 61938; Dr. Ian Stamps will officiate. A committal service will immediately follow in Dodge Grove Cemetery. The visitation will be held from 4:00 PM until 7:00 PM, Friday evening, June 19, 2026, at Mitchell-Jerdan Funeral Home, located at 1200 Wabash Avenue, Mattoon, IL 61938. Born in Decatur, IL on December 16, 1941, she was the daughter of Virgil R. and Ollie (Gochenouer) Howell. She is survived by her husband, Charles Adams; her son, Craig Adams, and daughter- in-law, Anne Myong, of Woodside, CA; her daughter, Holly Adams of Mattoon, IL; her grandchildren, Travis Bailey of Dallas, TX, Amanda Bailey of Lenexa, KS, Olivia Adams, and Zoe Adams of Woodside, CA; and countless friends whose lives she enriched. She was preceded in death by her parents, Virgil and Ollie Howell. She moved to Mattoon, IL as a child and then again in 1969. Linda was the salutatorian and a proud graduate of Mattoon High School (1960) and was a member of Delta Gamma Sorority at DePauw University (1964), where she cultivated a lifelong love of language and learning. On July 11, 1965, she married the love of her life, Charles Adams, beginning a partnership that would span more than six decades. A dedicated educator, Linda taught French and left an indelible mark on her students in Mattoon, IL, Fairfield, CA and Warner Robins, GA, an impact recognized when she was named Teacher of the Year. She brought the same care and attention to her classroom that she gave to everything she loved. Linda lived a life full of joy and play. She was a lucky and avid card, bridge, and game player, a dedicated puzzler, and a lifelong golfer who never lost her love of the game. She was a devoted reader and an enthusiastic fan of college sports — cheering passionately for the Fighting Illini of the University of Illinois, where she had every excuse to wear her favorite color, orange. She followed with equal fervor the TCU Horned Frogs, where her grandson Travis attended, and the Kansas State Wildcats, where her granddaughter Amanda studied — both schools, perhaps not coincidentally, proudly wearing purple, Linda’s other favorite color. She loved eating chocolate and doing puzzles with her granddaughters Olivia and Zoe, when they weren’t in her pool or driving her golf cart. For the past 22 years, Linda split her time between Mattoon, IL and Sanibel, FL, savoring the deep roots of the Midwest and the beauty of the Gulf Coast. She also lived briefly in Fairfield, CA and Warner Robins, GA when her husband, Charles, was in the Air Force. She was a member of the Philanthropic Educational Organization, and volunteered her time with her children’s schools, and Lincoln Log Cabin. She attended Broadway Christian Church in Mattoon and the Sanibel Community Church in Sanibel. Memorials in her honor may be made to Sarah Bush Lincoln Cancer Center, 1000 Health Center Drive, Mattoon, IL 61938. Please visit www.mitchell-jerdan.com or www.facebook.com/mitchelljerdanfuneralhome to light a virtual candle in her honor or share a m

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Linda Kay Adams

December 16, 1941 - May 11, 2026