James M. "Jim" Adkins

MISSOULA ~ James "Jim" M. Adkins, 59, of Frenchtown, Montana, was called home by our Lord Wednesday, January 6th, 2021.

He was born on December 1, 1961, in Redding, California to Charles and Barbara Adkins. He attended Ramona High School in Riverside and a couple of years after high school began a career in truck driving. He later moved to Missoula, Montana and spent time working towards a degree in computer programming at the Vo-Tech of Missoula, while continuing to drive truck, and could often be found working on and fixing computers for family and friends.

On October 11, 1996, he married Shari Pullins, whom he'd known since his youth, in Missoula, Montana. The couple lived and spent many happy years there until 2012 when Shari was called to her heavenly home. He then moved out to Frenchtown to live next to his oldest daughter and her family where he continued driving truck, closer to home, and greatly enjoyed spending his free time out shooting, fishing, and camping with his family.

On July 8, 2016, he was blessed with meeting Tori Krause and on August 7, 2019 the couple were married. They both shared the same love for the outdoors and often spent their free time camping and fishing.

He was very passionate about life and about being outdoors close to nature, whether it was fishing, shooting, camping, just driving around looking for new dirt roads to follow and see where they went, or simply sitting around a campfire for the day talking. He also had a passion for listening to music and playing the guitar as loud as it would go, he loved his rock and roll. He loved cars, motorcycles, and boats and often shared stories with regards to each about special joyrides or memories he had from his youth. One of his favorite memories as a child, that he shared with his brother, were their family trips to Needles, California on the Colorado River where they would fish and boat with their parents. Later in life, photography also became a great interest of his and proved to be something he was very gifted at and found great joy in.

He was preceded in death by his father, Charles Adkins, mother, Barbara Adkins; his beloved wife, Shari Adkins and his grandson, Connor Scott.

He is survived by his beloved wife, Tori Adkins, Missoula; three daughters, Katlyn (Brian) Delger and four children (Lexi, Winter, Sarah, and Dominic), Frenchtown, Jacki Adkins and two children (Ryker and Kaden), Alabama, Claudia Krause, Missoula; three sons, Justin Adkins and one child (Danyka), Wenatchee, Washington, John (Angi) Scott and two children (Carson and Cody), Antioch, Illinois, and Micheal DeMott, Missoula; brother Daniel Lee (Darlene Catherine) Adkins, California; four nieces, Heather Marie (Drew) Cooper and three children, Christieann Yvonne (fiance Kelson Kuamo'o) Anderson and their one child, Barbara Jean (fiance Mario Carrizales) Adkins and their three children, and Clarissa Catherine (Anthony) Parker and their one child; and many other family members and friends.

An incredibly loving husband, father, brother, and grandfather, he was always able to show his friends the same love and devotion he showed his own family because, to him, they were his family too. He never met a stranger, just a friend he didn't know yet. Although he will be missed by all who loved him, he is now at peace in his heavenly home.

His graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, January 16, 2021 at Sunset Memorial Gardens in Missoula. Pallbearers will be Daniel Adkins, Justing Adkins, Brian Delger, Micheal DeMott, Trever Bachuss, and Dean Burrell. Officiating the service will be all who loved him.

For information regarding the truck train procession preceding the graveside service, please contact Scott Allen at Western Transport (406)-493-7876.

Arrangements are under the care of Sunset Funeral Home in Missoula.