Margaret Elizabeth Anderson Adams

Our cherished mother and beloved family matriarch, Margaret Elizabeth Anderson Adams passed away peacefully at home surrounded by her family on April 4, 2023, at age 96.  

Mom was born in her grandmother Priscilla’s home in Syracuse, Utah on May 18, 1926, the daughter of Owen Benjamin Anderson and Elizabeth Schellinger Smith.  She lived in Bountiful, Utah in the home her father built for their family.  

In 1939, when Mom was 12, their family was called by President David O. McKay on a work and fellowship mission to the Palmyra, New York Branch of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  They were assigned to live at the base of the Hill Cumorah where they managed a church farm property.  The Anderson family was one of three families called to serve in the Palmyra area following the Willard Bean family who had served there for 24 years.  Her experiences in Palmyra solidified her testimony of the restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and of living prophets.  This set the foundation for the rest of her life.  

After attending the Oliver Cowdery School for the first year, Mother and her siblings were allowed to attend local public schools. She eventually graduated from Manchester High School where her family had earned the respect and high regard of the faculty and community and were given a standing ovation during Mom’s graduation.  

It was in Palmyra where Mom first met Elder David E. Adams who was serving as a missionary in the Eastern States Mission when he was assigned to work at the Hill Cumorah pageant.  After Mom graduated high school, she returned to Utah to attend BYU where her path would again cross with Dad. He was on a short leave while serving in the Army during World War II and called her for their first date.  They corresponded throughout the war while Mom was employed at New York Life Insurance. For a period of time, Mom lived on the third floor of the Beehive House, which was then being utilized as a dormitory.  Mom was unlikely aware of the significance the Beehive House would eventually play in her life.  

Mom and Dad were sealed in the Salt Lake Temple on March 26,1947 by David O. McKay.  Together, they built their home in Layton, Utah where they taught their children by example to have a testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. All of their sons, grandsons, three granddaughters and one great-grandson have served missions for the church, including two currently serving.  

In addition to her full-time work within her home, Mom served in ward Primary, MIA and Relief Society presidencies and Stake MIA and Sunday School Boards as well as being active in civic affairs.  She was significantly involved in the creation of the MOWEDA Youth Center in Roy, Utah which served Morgan, Weber and Davis Counties.  She was a member of the Davis County United Way Board for fourteen years.  Mom was also a member of the Visitors’ Coordination Bureau for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints where she helped organize the Pioneer Trolley tourist service in Salt Lake City, Utah.  

The highlight of Mom’s church and civic service was the 40 years she spent at the Beehive House as hostess, assistant director and director.  She curated and meticulously maintained Brigham Young’s home, sharing her testimony of the restored gospel and living prophets with thousands of visitors.  Mom considered this her informal life’s mission.  She felt blessed to work with hundreds of volunteer hostesses, many of whom became her dearest friends.  She retired at age 75.  

Mom was always a gracious host and made everyone feel welcome in her home. She loved to be around family members and friends and was keenly aware of those in need — quietly serving where she could.  

Mom is loved by so many and will be intensely missed. Our loss is tempered only by our knowledge of her joyous reunion with Dad and their beloved son, Russell Anderson Adams, her parents, her brothers Robert, Ernest, Stanley and Stephen Anderson, and her sister Esther Kimball.  

Mom is survived by her children, Dave and Char Adams, Susan and Joe Platt, Stuart and Susan Adams, Jeff and Celeste Adams, and Malinda and Richard Carter; her sisters Eileen Peterson and Karen (David) Howard, and a posterity of over 80 grandchildren and great-grandchildren.  

Funeral services will be held Friday, April 21, 2023 at 11:00 a.m. at the Holmes Creek Stake Center, 125 Chapel Street, Layton, Utah. Friends may visit with family Thursday from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Lindquist's Layton Mortuary, 1867 N. Fairfield Road and Friday from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the church.

Interment will be at the Kaysville City Cemetery.  

Funeral services will be live-streamed and may be viewed by scrolling to the bottom of Margaret’s obituary page at ww.lindquistmortuary.com.

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