Hayes Travis Adams

Hayes Travis Adams, 47, passed away just after midnight on December 11th, 2018 at his mother’s home in Harrisonburg after battling cancer for more than two years. He died in the arms of family with his dog Hektor by his side.Hayes was born on an air force base in Okinawa, Japan and grew up on a farm in Mossy Creek, VA. He was often described by his friends at Harrisonburg High School as marching to the beat of a different drummer, a guy who never judged others, and someone always there with the best hugs and a sharp wit. In 1990, he suffered a traumatic brain injury when he was hit by a car. He fought his way back to health, bravely re-learning how to walk, talk and read all over again. Some of his greatest joys were his graduation from St Johns College in Annapolis, all things Irish, hanging out with friends, and watching his nephew and niece become fiercely independent teens like him. Sadly, he didn’t realize his dream of riding a Ural motorcycle (his prize possession) across the US, but no one doubted his drive to make it happen. Hayes is survived by his mother, Eleanor Adams, his father, Don Adams, and his sister, Mandy Berglund. He is also survived by an extended family of cousins, aunts and uncles, friends he considered brothers, his step family, Mandy’s 2 children, and the children of his closest friends who regarded him as a loving uncle. There will be no formal memorial gathering, but we hope that groups of friends and family take the opportunity to join together to celebrate his life over coffee and deep philosophical conversation. In lieu of flowers, a donation can be made in his memory to the American Cancer Society. A fund will also be set up to annually provide a stipend to a student at St John’s College with mental health issues or disability. Hayes loved with his whole heart, never gave, up and touched many lives. He will be deeply missed.