James Adair

James Richard Adair, 74, passed away on Thursday, February 6, 2025, in Snowflake, Arizona, after a long battle with cancer. He was born on January 5, 1951, in Springerville, Arizona, to Marjorie Ashenden Adair and Joseph Byron Adair.

Jim had three grown half-sisters and three grown half-brothers on his father's side when he was born. On his mother's side, he had a half-brother, Rocky, who was nine years old when he was born, and a half-sister, Pat, who was six years old when he was born. He grew up with Pat and Rocky and was close with all his brothers and sisters, loving them all dearly. He also had a special connection with his nieces and nephews, many of whom were close to his age.

Jim served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Northern States Mission, mostly in Minnesota and South Dakota. After his mission, he joined the National Guard. He met his wife, Kathy Steele, and they were married in the Salt Lake City Temple on August 16, 1974. They spent their first year in Escalante, Utah, before moving to Mesa, Arizona, where they lived for 34 years, except for six months in Stephenville, Texas. They later moved to Queen Creek for seven years before settling in Snowflake, where they have lived for almost nine years. Their sons, Sam, Chad, Tom, and Alex, were all born in Mesa.

After a serious accident made it impossible for him to join the police department, Jim went into real estate. He became a Real Estate Broker and a developer in East Mesa, working for SunCor Development until he retired in 2010. He then dedicated his time to working in the temple (Mesa, Gilbert, and Snowflake) until about six months before he passed away. Jim served as a bishop twice, as the first president of the Mesa Mountain View Stake, and as a patriarch in the Centennial Stake in Snowflake. He also served for two years as a service missionary in the Bishop's Storehouse in Snowflake.

Jim was always busy and organized. He loved gathering, chopping and stacking wood for his wood burning stoves. He also enjoyed woodworking, making knives, fishing for salmon in Alaska, and going on ATV rides.

Jim is survived by his wife, Kathy, and their four sons, Sam (Jenn), Chad (Meagen), Tom, and Alex. He is also survived by five grandchildren, Berkeley, Atticus, Gideon, Emily, and Riley. Additionally, he is survived by his brother Rocky Taylor (Judy), his sister Pat Earley (Carl), as well as numerous nieces, nephews, and wonderful in-laws.

Funeral services will be on Monday, February 17, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. at the Centennial Building of the LDS Church in Snowflake, AZ, with a viewing at 9:00 a.m. A viewing will also be held on Sunday from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Owens Livingston Mortuary, 84 E. 19 S., in Snowflake, Arizona 85937.

To join the funeral service via ZOOM please use this link:

https://zoom.us/j/94650059687?pwd=OpbMqPwo5MXSsXra8PLBFsVExMpI91.1