Dell McAdams

DELL MCADAMS LaDell Westmoreland McAdams was born on October 24, 1929 in Liberty, Texas, to Lee Kelton Westmoreland and Lila Long Westmoreland, and died on January 28, 2013 in Huntsville, Texas. Her parents were teachers, and taught school in Houston County, Huntsville, Madison County, and finally in Huntsville again when she was four. Dell remained in Huntsville for the rest of her life. She was a busy student. At Huntsville High School, she was the President of the State Future Homemakers of America. During her term of service, Texas was admitted as an affiliate of the National Future Homemakers of America. She was Queen of the Huntsville High School Spring Festival in 1947, and graduated that year. She valued the relationship with her classmates, attending her last class reunion, their 65th, in the Spring of 2012. Dell attended college at Sam Houston State and Sul Ross State Universities. She was a member of the Zeta Tau Alpha sorority. She met her future husband, Doyle F. McAdams, Jr. in 1948, and they married on January 29, 1949 at the First United Methodist Church of Huntsville where both were very active members for the rest of their lives. She was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution and of the United Daughters of the Confederacy, holding offices in both. Dell was a Charter Member of the Study Club of Huntsville. She was a founding member of the Huntsville Memorial Hospital Auxiliary. She was a member of the Oakwood Cemetery Association’s Committee, and a member of the City of Huntsville’s Board for the Oakwood Cemetery. She was active politically, and served in leadership positions as long ago as the 1950s, when women rarely did so. She was County Chair for various statewide candidates, including United States Senator Lyndon B. Johnson. She was President of the Parents - Teachers Association/Organization of the Huntsville Public Schools. As a result of her leadership, she received the Honorary Lifetime Membership award of the P.T.A. She read avidly. She loved her bridge club, playing in it for more than 60 years. Dell was widely known, and she, indeed, widely knew. She shared many friendships across the community, and beyond. She freely gave of her time and knowledge. She was a rich source in her areas of expertise, and a mentor in those areas to many, which included more than one generation. Dell’s life and love were devoted to her community and to her family, and she will be greatly missed. She was a mother to two sons, James Doyle (Jim) McAdams and William Lee (Bill) McAdams. Much of her legacy is her children - and the boys and girls, and young men and women, she played a role in raising. She helped mother many in the Huntsville community. As well, she helped mother many young Aggies who her sons brought along from Texas A&M and into her orbit. She was a Texas Aggie mother for the years. She is survived in death by Jim, Jim’s wife Molly, and her grandsons James William (Will) McAdams, and Will’s wife Carly, and John Kohl McAdams. She is survived by Bill, and Bill’s wife Shan, and her granddaughter McKinsey Kelton McAdams Copeland, and McKinsey’s husband Baron. She is also survived by an uncle, Morris Westmoreland, and by many Westmoreland, Long, McAdams and Burney cousins. She was preceded in death by her loving husband of 63 years, Doyle. As well, she was predeceased by her wonderful parents, her four grandparents, and many uncles, aunts, and cousins. Love and gratitude is extended to all. Especially, to Dorothy Jean R. Thomason. Dot and Dell were friends who were both only children and became sisters by choice, as true of sisters as any could be. To Mary Charles F. Kyle, her lifelong friend. And to her cousins-in-law, D’Anne McAdams Crews, Kay McAdams Barrett, and Jere’ S. McCann. To Mae Rogers. To Lydia Ramos. To Carolyn Brooks. To Candice Mock. A visitation will be held at the Sam Houston Memorial Funeral Home, 1700 Normal Park Drive, Huntsville, Texas 77340, on Tuesday, January 29, 2013, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Her funeral service in memory and celebration of Dell’s life is to be conducted at the First United Methodist Church of Huntsville, 1016 Sam Houston Avenue, Huntsville, Texas 77320, on Wednesday, January 30, 2013 at 2:00 p.m. The interment is to follow at the Oakwood Cemetery in Huntsville. Honorary Pallbearers are Andy Adams, Dr. Tommy Cole, Col. M.B. Etheredge, J.J. Head, Jack Kyle, Brock Lively, James Patton, Judge Danny Pierce, Hal R. Ridley, Doyle Stuckey, Edwin Thomason, Jimmy Wood, and Mac Woodward. In lieu of customary remembrances, Mrs. McAdams requested that any memorial contributions in her name be made to the First United Methodist Church of Huntsville Foundation, 1016 Sam Houston Avenue, Huntsville, Texas 77320. Those wishing to leave memorial condolences for the family may do so at www.shmfh.com

Dell McAdams

October 24, 1929 - January 28, 2013