Peggy Adamson

Peggy Ruth (Wilson) Adamson was born January 1, 1940, in Liberty Hill, Georgia, and left this earth to be in the arms of her Savior January 2, 2021, at the age of 81 years and one day.

Peggy was united in marriage to Cevard Lee Burnett while still living in Georgia in the late 1950s. A son and daughter were born to this union. In 1966, a daughter was added to Peggy’s life. In 1967, Peggy married William (Willie) Carl Adamson in Cabool, Missouri. A third daughter was added to the family in 1968. She loved each of her four children deeply and never gave up on them; praying for their health, happiness, and spiritual well-being. Her life’s goal, even in passing, was to know that each would be a servant of Christ. Peggy also loved her siblings and their families and would provide whatever assistance and guidance each needed. She sought to remain in contact with nieces and nephews long after their parents would pass and continued to write and call them as long as she was able.

Peggy was a member of Willow Springs Free Will Baptist Church, north of Mountain Grove. She enjoyed teaching children’s Sunday school, assisting with programs, participating in Women’s Auxiliary, coordinating church dinners, and singing in the choir while her health permitted. Her church family, including those who moved and went on to build lives away from Mountain Grove, were always important to Peggy. She also enjoyed reading Christian fiction book series and collecting pertinent little “sayings” to include in the News Journal’s weekly Willow Springs Church article, which Ellen Middleton asked her to take over before she passed away. One of her favorites was “When there’s work to be done, turn up your sleeves, not your nose.”

Peggy truly adored and relied on her husband, Willie. He was her helpmate, best friend, and caretaker; her “Possie” to his “Mossie.” Early in their marriage, they made their home on a small farm on Route 4. Dedicated to teaching their children the value of hard work, they worked full-time jobs while growing a massive garden and raising chickens, pigs, and beef cattle. In 1981, as their children were becoming busy with school and church activities, farming was becoming a struggle that needed full-time efforts. Peggy and Willie sold the farm and moved to a quaint little home near the schools. Here, she enjoyed gardening, canning, and caring for the many flowers which the previous homeowners had planted. Neighbors, friends, and kids on school buses could often find Peggy and Willie sitting on their front porch swing reading the paper and waving as folks traveled by.

Peggy loved hearing her girls sing and play instruments, as well as hearing her granddaughters play handbells, and reminding them to never stop using their talents for the Lord. She was a constant supporter of her children and grandchildren in church, school, and community projects and programs including CTS bible and music competitions, pageants, academic competitions, theatre, choir, band, and sports. Other favorite pastimes were playing cards or dominoes, gardening or fishing with Willie, and amidst the groaning of her children and husband, going to and having yard sales.

Peggy made many life-long friends while employed as a waitress at Jerry’s Bakery/Cafe and Polly’s Cafe, helping Willie at the Dry Cleaner’s, working at Brown Shoe Company, and serving as a food service worker at the Middle School cafeteria. After retirement, she continued to visit with the girls in the school cafeteria often. Peggy was known for her devotion to friends, family, and faith, especially those precious kids in her Sunday school class who kept her young as long as they could. She spent many hours in prayer for her family members, church kids, and school students, desiring that they would come to know her Jesus.

Childhood memories never left Peggy’s heart and mind. She shared stories of playing in the kudzu behind their family’s house, luckily escaping rattlesnake bites. She wrote about neighborhood kids getting together for playing marbles, jump rope, and “the love of our life - skating!” Peggy could roller skate better than most, even into her adult years. She developed an early love for exploring and learning. Peggy’s passion for helping others was unmatched, as she often sacrificed her needs and desires for what would be of the most benefit to those around her and make people happy.

Several memorable moments in Peggy’s life had significant impacts. One was when, after raising her family, Peggy chose to go back to school and get her GED certificate. She had quit school in Georgia after the 8th grade in order to care for her siblings while her mother worked. With family support and encouragement, Peggy achieved a life-long goal and earned her GED. She also took great joy in her family’s educational achievements and celebrated high school graduations and college degrees for her daughters and granddaughter. One of the most blessed events in her life was when her granddaughter, Alyssa, and Clay, made her a great-grandmother. She anxiously awaited pictures and videos of her sweet great-granddaughter, Olivia, wishing her health would have allowed her to be with Olivia more.

Family and friends will deeply miss Peggy’s smile and her spirited presence. Peggy’s colorful personality, spunky attitude, and her whistle that could be heard two miles away, will be remembered fondly by those who knew her.

Preceding Peggy Adamson in death were her parents, Johnny Wilson and Ada (Pike) Wilson Gill; paternal grandparents, John H. Wilson and Viola A. Wilson; maternal grandparents, Ornie S. Pike and Della W. Pike; her father-in-law and mother-in-law, Robert and Olive Adamson; her sisters, Christine Mitts and Dorothy Crewse; her brother, Eugene Wilson; her daugher and son-in-law, Sheila Jo and Wayne Crisp; and her niece, Christy Gill.

She is survived by her husband, Willie Adamson, of the home; her son, Terry Burnett; her daughter, Wendy Thompson and husband, Michael; her daughter, Roberta Elliott; her brother, Eddie Gills and wife, Delores; her granddaughters and their husbands, Mikaela and Alex Schriver, and Alyssa and Clayton Rice; and great-granddaughter, Olivia Logan Rice; so many special nephews, nieces, and cousins, her church family; and numerous friends and neighbors who dearly loved Peggy and will miss her.