Marie A. Adams, 85, died Thursday, February 21, 2013 at her home after a lingering illness. Mrs. Adams is survived by David, her husband of 58 years; sons Galen of Austin, TX, and Damon of Chicago; daughter Cheryl Ann, who preceded her in death. Also surviving are beloved pets Liesl and Jessie; and two angels who comforted her and family the last four months- -Julie Owen and Helen Lynn.
The family thanks Brownsboro Norton Hospital and is indebted to Dr. Harry Renco for his care over 15 years.
Mrs. Adams was born July 9, 1927, the only daughter of Gladys and James Nash in Georgetown, PA. She graduated from Hopewell High School in 1945 and began a modeling career in hairstyle fashion shows. An early sign of her love involving volunteering came in 1943 when she organized her sophomore class to write to servicemen at the front who returned snapshots for her scrapbook.
She directed women’s fashion shops in Ohio and was promoted to Chambersburg, PA, where she met her husband. They married in 1955, and she resumed volunteering at hospitals and churches in nine states for 58 years.
Oceanside beaches in Hawaii, the Carolinas and New Orleans attracted her, although she couldn’t swim. She became an accomplished bowler, bird lover and took to music that jumped- -Bee Gees, Elvis, Beatles, Warsaw Concerto and Tchaikovsky. She preferred sun and deep tans to deep snow and slush.
She attended the Daytona 500, numerous baseball playoffs and World Series games with her family. She enjoyed going to small auto race tracks, finishing 3rd in her only demolition derby in 1971!
But her #1 delight was Derby week and the parties, where she met trainers, jockeys and owners, and the working press. Her #1 Derby was Secretariat (1973).
She worked in classified-top secret documents at Aberdeen Proving Ground in 1955-56 while her husband served in the Army. She was executive secretary for the dean of elementary education at Kent State as her husband took the GI Bill in 1956. She was promoted to executive secretary for the dean of women at Kent.
She retired in 1989 after 35 years at Sears. Friends knew her as a “giver,” never a “taker.” She had a sense for knowing when a friend in marital distress needed her support.
A gardener and landscaper, she showed a green thumb in and outside the house for flowers, plants and trees. She never missed solving the Jumble puzzle every morning too! Like an unborn infant in the womb, she slept into eternal peace without worry or guilt, to be with Jesus Christ and her Lord, ready to begin heaven’s work. A final ride with no transfers, tokens or delays.
Services will be held at Northeast Christian Church on Tuesday, February 26 with visitation from 10am-12pm and memorial service to follow at noon. In lieu of flowers, you may donate to Hosparus, Alzheimer’s Association and Northeast Christian.
Arrangements under the direction of Arch L. Heady at Resthaven at Resthaven, 4400 Bardstown Rd.
Please visit us online at www.archlheadyresthaven.com
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