Mary Louise Emmerson Adams, 85, of Springfield, Missouri passed away on Sunday, September 13, 2026, at Cox Medical Center. She most recently resided at The Maples Health and Rehab in Springfield. Mary was born on Monday, May 5, 1941 in Phenix, MO, the daughter of Charles William and Lyntha Emmerson. She was the baby of four sisters.

Mary graduated from Walnut Grove High School in 1958. She loved school and was both a drum majorette and a cheerleader. She later met and married Jess J. Daugherty and together they had two sons, Lonnie William Daugherty and his wife Diane, and Jeffrey Allen Daugherty and his wife Linda. They gave her five grandchildren Cristy, Justin, Jessica, Kayla and Luke, and seven great grandchildren.

After Jess passed away, Mary married John C. Adams and her family grew again. She gained a son, Jimmie Adams and Carol, and daughters Jonna Jenkins and her husband David, and Sheryl Witt and her husband Rod. Together, Mary and John shared 13 grandchildren and 24 great-grandchildren.

Some of Mary’s favorite jobs included working at the record store at Bernstein Applebee’s and later owning Bridal Illusion with John. She loved helping people find the perfect dress for their wedding, prom or special event, and even helped performers in Branson find their perfect show gowns.

After several years, Mary and John moved to Branson, MO, where they both became part of the Branson area life. John worked at Silver Dollar City, and Mary worked at The Potter’s Shed, where her company, Mary’s Makin’s, made a variety of pottery. Her family is blessed to still have several pieces of pottery handcrafted by her.

Mary was a member of Oak Grove Assembly of God Church in Springfield, Missouri. But her greatest joy was found in loving God and serving people with all the abilities she had been given.

Mary had a way of making people feel seen and cared for. While looking through her Bible after her passing, her family found words she had written describing what she believed was her calling:

“The call for me is to help people in grief who do not know God. Getting acquainted with them first and then leading them to the Lord.”

She lived those words.

Mary worked with an organization called Praise Keepers, traveling and sharing the Good News. One of her greatest joys was going into the Women’s Correctional Center in Vandalia, MO and helping women see their worth, understand that there was hope beyond whatever they had done and know that there was help beyond addiction.

But Mary did more than talk about helping people. She put her faith into action.

At her apartment complex, Mary worked with the owner to lease a few apartments where she could take in women who had been released from detention. She cared for their physical needs, equipped the home with what they needed, taught them basic life skills and spiritual understanding, helped them find jobs, and helped them get back on their feet so they could build a new life.

Mary was always entrepreneurial and she even opened a thrift store to help fund this mission. She and John continued to offer a helping hand to others throughout the rest of their married lives. Mary loved life. She loved people. And she had a way of making life fun no matter what was going on.

Whether she was giving everyone silly string for Christmas, playing games with the family, or coming to stay for a week around the holidays, feeding everyone whatever they wanted for every meal. Mary brought joy with her!

She was preceded in death by her parents, her first husband Jess J. Daugherty, her second husband John C. Adams, one grandson Joshua William Daugherty and her sisters and brothers-in-law, Roselie and Donald Richter, Ruth and Orville Hyder, and C.L. and Emma Acuff.

She was a beloved daughter, mother, mother in love, sister, grandmother, great grandmother, aunt and friend. Our lives are forever marked by her, and we are so grateful she was given to all of us.

Please join us as we celebrate Mary’s life and remember the wonderful woman she was at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, September 18, 2026 at the Klingner-Cope Family Funeral Home at Rivermonte, 4500 S. Lone Pine Ave., Springfield, MO 65804 with Pastor Ron Morein officiating. Online condolences can be made at www.klingnerfuneralhome.com

Perhaps Mary’s own words best express the faith she leaves with her family:

“Remember, we have authority in the name of Jesus. We are joint heirs with Christ. We are His family. We are His children.”