Bobby McAdams, 81

A beloved community member passed away on Feb. 11, 2022. Bob McAdams transitioned peacefully after a yearlong battle with stage 4 cancer.

Bob was born in 1940 in Hobart, Okla., to Cecil Rhodes and Alice Scarberry. Bob spent many memorable years exploring and growing up with his older brother and best friend, Floyd in Oklahoma, Arizona and eventually in California. He followed Floyd into Naval Service in 1958 and served the United States of America until his Reserves obligation was complete in 1964. He raised his family in Southern California and retired after 28 years as an electrician by trade.

Bob loved life and told great stories of his adventures around the world. In the 1990s he sold all of his belongings and sailed with small crews on modest cruisers to 24 countries without an itinerary. An especially memorable story was when he trekked in the Sahara Desert on a camel. In 2003, at the age of 63, he climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro while visiting Africa to work on water projects and as a teacher during the AIDs crisis.

In 2004, a job opportunity brought him to Coeur d’Alene where he fell in love with the collaborative spirit of the community and the wonderful people, whether of simple acquaintance or deep friendships. Of which he had many. He lived and contributed to several projects in the Garden District, including the distinction as a historical district, and the Community Garden. He often spoke of the Norman Rockwell neighborhood where young neighbor kids spontaneously cut his grass or offered help with anything he needed, and a neighborhood custom of sharing extra food items on porches without mention.

He enjoyed donating his time working with the Lake City Playhouse and Jacklin Arts and Cultural Center engineering and building sets, and a little acting. He was known to make magic happen by putting unique touches on the set design to delight the audiences.

He was a man with great kindness, intelligence, consistent integrity and talent. He loved well in his four marriages, earned the admiration of his children, and never burned a bridge. His mission was to make life better for all that he met, and as one social media post stated: “Mission Accomplished!” He prided himself on great discussions with friends, neighbors and community members and often wrote opinion pieces for The Press, including a twice published My Turn article titled “7 Points to Ponder on Idaho Etiquette’ wherein he reminded newcomers of the standards of the city that have made it such a desirable and exquisite place to live. He was willing to argue his position, but also willing to listen to others, and not cry or throw a tantrum when agreement couldn’t be met.

He is survived by his brother, Floyd and his wife Mischwa; daughter, Pamela and her husband Eric; son, George and his wife Julie; grandchildren, Brandon, Ilana, Marcus and Keilani, and great Grandchildren, Maverick and Bohdi and numerous cousins.

He loved genuinely, was loved deeply and will be profoundly missed!

Memorial services will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, April 2, 2022, at Yates Funeral Home — Coeur d’Alene Chapel (744 N. Fourth St. Coeur d’Alene, Idaho 83814).

Yates Funeral Home has been entrusted with final arrangements. Please visit Bob’s online memorial and sign his guestbook at yatesfuneralhomes.com.