John Adair

John Edd Jack Adair was born on July 17, 1933 at his family home in Piney, Oklahoma. He was the fifth of eight children born to Madison Bates and Lois Keller Adair. He was a twin, but his twin sister did not survive the birth. Jack died on Thursday, September 18 at Mercy Hospital in Fort Smith, Arkansas, at the age of 81, surrounded by loved ones. We know he was welcomed home with love as he crossed into new life on the other side.

Jack was well known for his friendly, outgoing nature, his infectious laugh, his sense of humor and his good heart. He loved helping others and he made friends everywhere he went.

Jack attended Piney Elementary School and Stilwell High School, where he graduated in 1952. He enrolled at Oklahoma State University but was unable to attend due to the draft. He proudly served his country in the United States Army during the Korean War, from 1953 to 1955. He was stationed at Brooks Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas, where he was a helicopter mechanic.

During his service in the Army, his buddy Jerry Richardson introduced Jack to Jerrys sisterinlaw Virginia Wright. Though they had grown up only a few miles from each other, Jack and Virginia had never met. They became engaged following a longdistance courtship and were married on November 12, 1955 at her parents home in Baron.
Jack and Virginia began their married life in Tulsa, OK but soon moved to Lawrence, Kansas where Jack worked for the Kansas State Transportation Department. It was in Lawrence that their daughter Paula Jean was born. They soon moved back to Tulsa where Jack worked as a heavy equipment operator and where their second daughter Jacki Lynne was born.

In the late 1950s, Jack and Virginia moved to Baron where Jack worked for the DeJarnett Brothers as a bull dozer operator.

In the summer of 1962, Jack built a home for his family on the family farm. Jack and Virginias third daughter, Jennifer Lois was born in Stilwell in 1965.

Jack was a farmer and rancher throughout his life. He also worked as a mechanic at Bill Garrett Chevrolet and later for Stilwell Foods as a Harvest Crew Supervisor and equipment mechanic. Jack then worked as a bus mechanic at Stilwell Public Schools before finishing his career as Transportation Director at Westville Public Schools, where he retired in 1994. Jack was loved by teachers, students and administrators alike and he loved taking the seniors to Disneyworld on senior trips for many years.

Jack suffered a stroke in 2007 and lived the remainder of his life disabled, with Virginia constantly at his side. Though he lost his ability to speak and eventually his ability to walk, he never lost his smile, his sense of humor or that wonderful laugh.

Jack was preceded in death by his parents, Madison and Lois Adair, his baby twin sister, his sister Juanita Owen, two nephews Bobby and Roger Adair, a niece Barbara Harmon and a soninlaw Scott Smith.

He is survived by his wife of almost 59 years, Virginia his daughters Paula Adair Alvarez and husband Ivan of Broken Arrow Jacki AdairSmith of Tulsa Jennifer Adair Brantley and husband James of Stilwell Ten grandchildren Chris McConnell and Carla of Florida, Eric Dean of Tulsa, Charlotte McConnell Willhite and Tim of Florida, Eli Dean of Tulsa, Jesse Brantley of Stilwell Jeremy Smith of Georgia Kyle Smith of Tulsa, and Ivan, Cristiana and Carlos Alvarez all of Nicaragua great grandchildren Charlie and Ciara McConnell his siblings Jeanne Englander of Collinsville, Bryce Adair and Wilma of Alva, Leola Harmon of Kansas, Bob Adair and Mary of Westville and Karen Cardwell of California and many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Services were held Monday, September 22 at 2 p.m. at Roberts Hart Chapel in Westville. Those who wish to honor Jack with a charitable contribution may donate in Jacks memory to the Westville Education Foundation, PO BOX 63, Westville, OK 74965, Friends of the John F. Henderson Library, Westville or the Piney Cemetery Fund.