MarDee (Orton) Adams, age 74, returned to her Heavenly Home on Thursday, April 3, 2025. Her family would like to thank all the loved ones and medical caretakers who helped her through these last years, as she fought against cancer.

MarDee was born on April 26, 1950, in Ogden, Utah, to Max & Beverly Orton. She spent her early years attending a two-room schoolhouse where her mother was the principal, and then moved for a short time to Oklahoma to follow her father's career in aviation electronics. Eventually the family settled down on the Central Coast of California, where MarDee grew up and then proceeded to raise her own family, before moving to rural Kansas where she spent her golden years. In December 1968 she married Larry Adams in the Los Angeles Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They enjoyed a marriage of 56 years and raised their seven children together, as well as taking in "extra kids" as needed over the years. The house was always full, and always full of love! MarDee found particular joy in working with those who had special needs. She loved communicating in sign language, taught a special needs Sunday School class, worked as a PARA for the local school district, and even opened a thrift store to employ and benefit the handicapped members of her community. She spent decades serving the children of her church in various ways; the Primary Room was always her "happy place"! In her later years, her focus shifted to her ancestors and she became passionate about genealogy, serving as a missionary to help others find their own family tree members, serving in the Winter Quarters Temple, and helping along the work of digitizing historic records. She enjoyed making beautiful things with her hands, usually through the art of crochet, and shared her talents freely with everyone around her. In recent years she devoted her time to The Phillipsburg Project, working alongside friends and supporting the community.

MarDee is preceded in death by her parents, C. Max & Beverly (Burnham) Orton; her son, David Adams; her brother, Brent Orton; and her six babies who never had the opportunity to lay in her arms in this lifetime. She is survived by her husband, Larry S. Adams; her children, Steven (Melissa) Adams, Susie (Roland) Jones, Laura (Troy) Lewellen, Joseph (Brittany) Adams, Daniel Adams, and Wesley Adams; as well as her daughter-in-law,  Jean Wheeler; her brother, Neil (Charlotte) Orton; and her sister, Carolee Edwards. She also leaves behind dozens of grandchildren and great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews, and very dear friends.

Memorial services will be at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 620 S 7th St, Phillipsburg KS, on Saturday April 12th, at 11am. Interment will be held privately at a later date.