Iva Mae "Snooks" Downs Adams

Iva Mae Downs Adams was born to David A and Leona Hasley Downs on January 2, 1927 in Vinson, OK. She is survived by her loving brother Sonny (H.E.) and wife Mary Downs; sister, Coralee and husband Ed Herndon. Also survived by her children and their spouses, sons Larry & Belle Adams; Gena’ & Darlene Adams; Dale & Tami Adams; and daughters Ivone Peck & Angie Adams & spouse Steve Brown. She leaves behind numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren. Iva started her life as the daughter of a cotton farmer, pulling cotton and singing in the fields with the other hands. She also worked in one of the many plane factories during World War II. One of the “Great Generation” she learned to work hard and save. She provided by working many jobs including “candling eggs” in a chicken house, to doing alterations at Up to Date Cleaners and finally retiring from Continental Federal Savings & Loan as manager of the record retention department. She kept her fellow employees entertained with her many stories and poems written especially for them on their birthdays, anniversaries or retirement. She often wrote for her own entertainment and as the family has gone thru her belongings they have found many that brought tears to their eyes as we remembered “The Old Man and Troubles” a poem about her Dad’s dog, “The Yellow Rose”, and other things that she had written. Iva had a beautiful singing voice. She sang in the church choir for many years and had her daughters singing with her on special occasions at the church as well as family times. The family including the boys, often got together and sang all the old music from church and she sang the songs she learned at her Daddy’s knee, like “Little Blossom” and “Red River Valley”. In the evening, no TV to watch, you would hear her singing songs to her kids or telling them stories about the “old days”. From the time she retired until she was unable to hold a needle anymore she made quilts for everyone. Not just family either, if you did a job or a good deed for her, or even if you just really admired one, she would make you a quilt. These fabulous quilts are in all our homes as reminders of her and her skill. Services will be at Bill Merritt Funeral Home in Bethany, OK at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, October 26th. Visitation Friday noon to 8 p.m.