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Ina Clair Adair

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Ina Clair Adair was the fifth child born to Leslie Ronald Adair and Mildred Lilly: Delbert William, Cleo, Gwendolyn, Ronald Edward, Ina Clair, Thelma Jean, and Lawrence Douglas. She was born on September 14, 1940 in Pinetop, Arizona. She was the only one among her brothers and sisters that was born in Pinetop. The home her parents were living at her birth is still standing today in Pinetop at 1443 E. Fir Lane. However, it has been totally remodeled since Ina was born.

Ina was first married to Merle Richard Brooks on December 6, 1958 in Avondale, Arizona. Ina called him Richard while he was known to everyone else as Brooks. He is the son of Samuel Squire Brooks Jr. and Thelma Maxine Crawford. Brooks and Ina had four children: Merle Richard Jr. (Rick), Jane Louise, twins- Michael Robert and Michelle Robin. Brooks and Ina lived in West Phoenix for many years until Ina bought the house at 3525 E. Harvard St. in Phoenix. This was only two streets over from where Ina's brother, Delbert's family lived. Since both families grew up together they were close in relationships. On Christmas mornings they would call over to each others homes and ask "what did you get?"

Brooks and Ina divorced and her second marriage was to Wilford Reed Gale on August 16, 1976 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Reed is the son of John Lorin Gale and Lillian Williams. They moved to a nice home at 4516 N. 34th Place in Phoenix. They did not have any children.

Ina was very much into music. She always hoped that one of the songs she wrote would hit it big. One of them, Queen of Hearts did make it big. It was written by her and sung by her brother Ronnie. Many years after Ronnie had passed away, Ina drove around various radio stations. This is how she met Reed. She was giving the stations a copy of Ronnie's music and trying to make a comeback with some songs that were compiled onto an album called "Remember Ronnie Adair." Reed was working as a disc jockey at the time.

Ina loved her children and grandchildren. Family members thought she might worry herself sick over her kids. Her grandchildren also loved her and called her Ina as did her own children. While her children were young Ina was involved in competetive rodeos called Gymkhana rodeos.

Ina died from lung cancer on December 22, 1998 in Phoenix, Arizona. Her funeral was held at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints at 40th St. & Oak St. She was buried in Phoenix, Arizona.

Please feel free to contact Delbert Adair Jr. at the following address: dtadair@att.net
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