Clay Stewart Adams, age 60, of Gate, Oklahoma, passed away on January 16, 2026. He was born on June 30, 1965, in Topeka, Kansas, to Anne Gorbutt Adams and Raymond E. Adams, Jr.Clay attended Maur Hill Preparatory School in Atchison, Kansas, and later Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kansas, where he was a member of the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity. He began his career working alongside his father and later became a partner in Adams Cattle Company of Maple Hill, Kansas.
Following his father’s passing, Clay established his own cattle operation, where he bred, trained, and showed American Quarter Horses and Cutting Horses. He was a member of U.S. Premium Beef, the Kansas Livestock Association, the American Quarter Horse Association, and the American Cutting Horse Association.
Clay was a devoted Kansas City Chiefs fan, an accomplished Kansas fisherman, and enjoyed hunting quail, deer, and duck in season. He loved riding quality horses, playing his guitar, listening to great music, and engaging in lively conversation with friends. A true patriot, Clay deeply loved his land, family, and country.
He is survived by his daughter, Kaitlyn “Katy” Anne Sneath (Colton) of Sublette, Kansas; his son, William Clay Adams of Gate, Oklahoma; his brothers, John C. Adams (Lisa) of Plains, Kansas, and Charles A. Adams of Berryton, Kansas; his sisters, Marie Adams Dolembo (Tom) of Lawrence, Kansas, and Jessie S. “Sally” Bitar of Olathe, Kansas; and several nieces and nephews.
Clay was preceded in death by his father, Raymond E. Adams, Jr.; his mother, Anne Gorbutt Adams; and his brother, Raymond E. “Eddie” Adams III.
A memorial service will be held on Tuesday, January 27, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at Maple Hill Community Congregational Church, 104 4th Street, Maple Hill, Kansas 66507. Memorial contributions or floral arrangements in honor of Clay’s memory may be made to Maple Hill Community Congregational Church and may be sent in care of Piper Funeral Home, 714 Maple St., St. Marys, KS 66536.
