Sally Irene Adams (nee Sammons), 86, of St. Louis, Missouri, passed away peacefully, fortified with the Sacraments of Holy Mother Church, on March 26, 2026. Preceded in death by her parents Joseph and Irene Sammons, sister Mary Jo Miller, and brother James Sammons. Loving mother to Amy (Luigi) Abbate and Matthew (Kelly) Adams; adoring grandmother, affectionately known as “Mama RiRi” to Giuseppe “Joe”, Matteo, and Serafina Abbate, Makayla and Kane Adams; as well as a beloved aunt, great-aunt, great-great aunt, great-great-great-aunt, cousin, and a dear friend to many.
She was born in Trinidad, Colorado, and carried with her a lifelong love of family, faith, and service. Sally was a devoted Catholic whose faith guided her life and relationships.
She attended Holy Trinity Catholic High School in Trinidad, Colorado, graduating with the class of 1958. She then attended Adams State College in Colorado, where she earned her Bachelor of Arts in Education in 1963. She later continued her education at St. John’s Mercy School of Medical Technology, earning a Bachelor of Science in Medical Technology in 1978, and became licensed as an ASCP medical technologist.
Sally began her career as a first-grade teacher working in Colorado and Tennessee, where she touched the lives of many young students. She later moved to St. Louis, MO and transitioned into the medical field, working as a medical technologist and advancing to roles in laboratory administration and as a laboratory director. Throughout her career, she served at Lutheran Medical Center, Incarnate Word Hospital, and Touchette Regional Hospital, where she was respected for her dedication and professionalism.
Outside of her career, Sally found joy in reading, gardening and crocheting. She was known for her kind, caring, loving, and generous nature, as well as her remarkable strength. Her greatest pride and happiness came from her family. She will be deeply missed by everyone.
Eternal rest grant unto her, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon her. May she rest in peace.
In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to advance AML research at Siteman Cancer Center and WashU Medicine, MSC 1082-414-2555, 7425 Forsyth Blvd, St.Louis, MO 63105. Please indicate that the gift is in memory of Sally Adams by writing the following memo on your check-IMO Sally Adams (Leukemia Research/AML Oncology). You can also give online at siteman.wustl.edu/tribute
Visitation at St. Ambrose Catholic Church, 5130 Wilson Ave., St. Louis, MO 63110, on Saturday, April 11, 9:00 am until funeral mass at 10:00 am. Interment Resurrection Cemetery.
A dear dear friend -will greatly miss her! With love and prayers-
For Sally’s children and grandchildren and for her niece in Memphis, I am Lori Lohman connected to Sally through her mother Irene Kane Sammons. My aunt was close to Mary Jo. My grandmother and her twin visited Trinidad often traveling by train. When we moved to Colorado in 1956 we started visiting. To me Sally was the glamorous grown up teenager. But once Sally left Trinidad I always wondered about her. Doing some genealogy I discovered Jim’s obituary and left a not like this. It happened Sally was in Memphis at the time and used the computer there to get in touch. We talked and wrote [mostly her] over the years and I was able to answer a few family questions. Christmas I has a really long letter but was never able to reach her by phone, something I regret. I valued our late life friendship and know how very much she love all her family. She was special.