L. Ray Adams, 76, passed away December 16, 2009 with his three loving children by his side after battling a short illness. Born January 22, 1933 in Big Spring, Texas to Virgil and Melba Adams, Ray grew up during the Great Depression and learned many lessons of compassion through his experiences as a child. Out of necessity, Ray began selling newspapers at the age of nine for the Big Spring Daily Herald. His preferred sales location was the military base in Big Spring during World War II. One of his favorite stories of that time was when the newspaper ran the headline that the war was over. He quickly bought double his usual batch of papers and ran all the way to the base where he was able to announce to the soldiers that the war was indeed finished. The soldiers picked him up and passed him one by one over their heads onto the bar at the PX. They stuffed dollar bills in his pockets. It was a great day for our country and for Ray, as he had discovered what could be achieved through salesmanship. Ray attended North Texas University and after college, married Patricia Anne Lloyd, also from Big Spring. He began selling cars at McEwen Motor Company in Big Spring, and in his first month, he personally doubled the best month the entire company had ever had. In 1959, at age 27, Ray wanted bigger challenges and moved his family to Dallas where he went to work at Friendly Chevrolet. Within two years, he was managing the force of 39 salespeople. Ray received numerous local, regional and national sales awards throughout his life, and opened his own Ford dealership in 1978. In 1982 he teamed up with eldest son Andy, and together they created and founded Autoflex Leasing, which grew to become one of the largest automotive entities in the nation. His admiration for the free enterprise system ranked him as one of the most insightful capitalists in the auto world. Andy and brother, Ray Jr., were fortunate to have worked side by side with their dad for 27 years. Ray was a man of honor, knowledge, character and wisdom. Spending time with and preserving the family history was a priority to him. God used Ray to bless many people through the years. In his own quiet way he did many, many things for people that never even knew where the help came from. He always had a kind word, a smile, a quick witted comment or joke to share, and offered a sincere heartfelt hello to everyone he met. "I don't think I ever saw the man without a smile and something positive to say." He, like all of us, had challenges and difficult times in life but he never showed that side to others, which says a lot about the character of this man. Ray Adams was a complex, intelligent man that lived a diverse life that was built on life's valuable experiences. Our entire family is proud to have called him Dad, "Pop", brother, husband, son, partner and friend. Take care of your family, huddle together and love each other like never before. Cry, yes, but remember to laugh about the good times and funny stories also. Ray Adams always did. Ray is preceded in death by his father Virgil Adams, and mother Melba Whittington. He is survived by Patricia Adams, sisters Cheryl Willie and Sally Chesbro, brother Rocky Adams, daughter Pam Adams Siviglia and husband Joe and their children Jordan, Spencer and Josh, son Andy Adams and wife Suzanne and their children Elizabeth Adams Zantop, Meredith and Andrew Jr., son Ray Jr., and one great grandson Zach Zantop as well as numerous cousins, nieces and nephews. A celebration of the life of Ray Adams will be held in Ellis Chapel at Park Cities Baptist Church, 3933 Northwest Parkway in Dallas on Saturday December 19, 2009 at 11:00AM In lieu of flowers, Ray asks that donations be made to the SPCA in honor of his love for his dogs. Ray wouldn't just go out and buy a dog like most people. He would adopt abandoned dogs from the pound, let them live out their lives with him, and then would go and rescue another one. That's just how he was. SPCA of Texas Attn: Development 2400 Lone Star Drive Dallas, Texas 75212

Published in the Dallas Morning News on 12/18/2009