Jimmie Ray Adkins, son of the late Raymond Adkins and Vivian Brown Adkins, was born on August 16, 1934, in Bernie, Missouri. He departed this life on May 15, 2024, at Cypress Point Skilled Nursing in Dexter, Missouri at the age of 89 years.

Jim was united in marriage to Reba “Jeri” Kyle on February 11, 1956, in Bloomfield, Missouri, and was of the Baptist faith. Mrs. Adkins resides at their home in Dexter, which they built in 1972.

Along with his wife, he is survived by his son Dean Adkins of San Ramon, California; daughters Kim Pounders of Little Rock, Arkansas and Dana Neis and husband Mark of Eudora, Kansas; by his sister Judy Gregory of Dexter, Missouri; by seven grandchildren, Kyle, Nathan and Anna Pounders, John and Krissy Adkins, and Trevor and Carter Neis; and by his great grandson Tommy Adkins.

Mr. Adkins was a talented man, starting his career as a graphic artist / technical illustrator for Ozark Airlines and then McDonnell Aircraft where he worked on illustrations for the Project Mercury flight manual. Jim was also an architectural designer, and owned and operated Delta Components truss plant for 25 years. He pursued his artistic talents by painting, drawing, duck decoy woodcarving, woodworking and woodturning. Jim perfected basket illusion woodturning of SW Indian basketry, becoming the best in the art, teaching his craft to many woodturners across the country.

A memorial service will be held in the Fellowship Hall at First Baptist Church, 11 W Castor Street, Dexter, Missouri on Saturday, June 29, 2024 at 1:30 p.m.