Mrs. Leona Amelia (Stutzman) Adams, age 85, of Florence, Indiana, entered this life on January 16, 1938 in Rising Sun, Indiana. She was the loving daughter of, Gordon Edward and Esther Margaret (Cornelius) Stutzman. She was raised in Markland, Indiana and attended Patriot High School and Madison High School, class of 1973. Leona studied business at Mount St. Joseph College in Cincinnati, Ohio. Leona was united in marriage to Paul Frederick James on September 12, 1955 in Florence, Indiana. This happy union was blessed with four children, Paul, Victoria, Julia and Michael. Leona and Paul shared nearly 17 years of marriage together until he passed away on February 23, 1972. Leona was later united in marriage to Bob Chance in 1974. She was later united in marriage to Walter Henry Baker in 1976 and they shared 20 years of marriage together until he passed away on January 2, 1996. Leona was united in marriage on October 17, 1998 to Richard Roy Adams at the Hamline Chapel United Methodist Church in Lawrenceburg, Indiana. This happy union shared nearly 25 years of marriage together until her passing. Leona and Richard were awarded the 2014 Golden Hoosier Award from LifeTime Resources. Leona was a former Pink Lady at Dearborn County Hospital for over 20 years, volunteering mainly in the gift shop. Leona also volunteered many hours at the Quercus Grove Food Pantry for many years. She was a member at the Quercus Grove Methodist Church and played the piano for several years. Leona retired in 1999 from Macy’s Department Store after 22 years of service as the men’s department floor manager located in Western Woods in Cincinnati, Ohio and Florence, Kentucky. She also worked for seven years at the Madison Plastics Factory. Leona was a member of the Vevay American Legion Post #185 Ladies Auxiliary and the Vevay VFW Post #5396 Ladies Auxiliary. She was also a member of the Florence Home Economics Club. Leona and Richard enjoyed music and was a member of the Vevay Music Club where they performed country and gospel music at various Switzerland County events. Leona helped so many people in her life and loved to volunteer her time and skills anyway she could. Leona enjoyed arts and crafts, golf and spending time with her loved ones. Leona passed away at 11:18 a.m., Monday, May 1, 2023, at her residence in Florence, Indiana.
Leona will be missed by her husband, Richard Roy Adams of Florence, IN; her daughter, Victoria Meyer and her husband, Hugh of Springs, TX; her sons, Paul Frederick James, Jr. and his wife, Connie of Vevay, IN and Michael Lee James and his wife, Cathy of Vevay, IN; her grandchildren, Brian, Chris, Natalie, Danny, Paula Jo, Sarah, Blake and Tessa; her great-grandchildren, Luke, Katelyn, Mason, Brooklyn, Caleb, Annie, Jessie, James, Dylan, Nolan, Madison, Isabella, Logan, Corbyn and Connor; her great-great-grandchildren, Tobias, Ezekiel and Atlas; her sister, and Margaret Baker of Dillsboro, IN; her brothers, Bob Stutzman of Rising Sun, IN, John Stutzman and his wife, Bonnie of Leavenworth, IN, George Stutzman and his wife, Mary Lee of Leavenworth, IN, David Stutzman and his wife, Linda of Brookville, IN and Gordon Stutzman of Rising Sun, IN and her several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her father, Gordon Edward Stutzman, died October 12, 1987; her mother, Esther Margaret (Cornelius) Stutzman, died January 17, 1997; her husbands, Paul Frederick James and Walter Henry Baker; her daughter, Julia Marie James, died December 6, 1957; her grandson, John Shelley; her great-granddaughter, Brooklyn James; her sister, Rebecca Fair; her brothers-in-law, Ross Fair and Ted Baker and her sisters-in-law, Lois Stutzman and Anita Stutzman.
Visitation will be held from 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m., Thursday, May 4, 2023, at the Haskell & Morrison Funeral Home, 208 Ferry Street, Vevay, Indiana 47043. Auxiliary Services will be conducted at 7:00 p.m., Thursday, May 4, 2023, at the funeral home.
Funeral services will be conducted at 11:00 a.m., Friday, May 5, 2023, at the Haskell & Morrison Funeral Home, 208 Ferry Street, Vevay, Indiana 47043.
Interment will follow in the Vevay Cemetery, Vevay, Indiana.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Keeping Pace Cancer Fund c/o CFSCI or Quercus Grove Methodist Church. Cards are available at the funeral home or online at www.haskellandmorrison.com