Marie Stephens Adams

Marie S. Adams LAYTON - Marie Stephens Adams, 90, passed away Friday, March 27, 2009 at her home. She was born January 18, 1919 in Riverdale, Utah the daughter of John Clinton and Gertrude Jane Roman Stephens. Marie married Ray E. Adams on December 2, 1949 in the Salt Lake LDS Temple. He preceded her in death on October 8, 1986. Mom grew up in South Weber until she was 17. Growing up in South Weber made her strong as she always had to brave the wind. She loved working with her father on the rocky ground and swimming in the canal and Weber River. She moved to California after she graduated from Davis High and worked as a nanny for a couple of years. She returned to Ogden and Lived there until the late 40s. While living in Ogden, she was one of six women invited to attend ammunition school in New Jersey in 1941 and worked at the Ogden Arsenal (now Hill FAB) with many of the Italian POWs. At the time, she was the only woman ammunition inspector in the nation, and was transferred to Tooele, Utah because the government wouldn’t let go overseas. This was her favorite job that lasted for 10 years. She lived in Tooele until July 1951 where she moved to Layton, and lived there the rest of her life. Mom was a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She married to her eternal sweetheart in the Salt Lake Temple on December 2, 1949. She served as Primary President and Counselor, in the ward and stake Mutual, Night Relief Society Coordinator, and Stake Relief Society Secretary. She was a faithful visiting teacher to the end. She also served in the Ogden Temple and was the last of the Church’s Stake Missionaries as she served for over 10 years with her partner Ella Hoskins. Mother was a member of the Fiddlers Creek Daughters of Utah Pioneers, and also was an original member of a Layton Cultural Club that she still attended. She also had a group of widows that she did things with for many years until many of them preceded her in death. Family was the most important part of her life. She loved doing anything with family. She loved watching her children and grandchildren perform whether it was sports or any production. Family trips were spent up Weber Canyon – fishing on the Weber River and hunting at Chalk Creek. She was an excellent marksman where for three consecutive years; she shot a deer each year with one shot using open sites. She had unconditional love for everyone and there were many people that she invited to live in her home. She was truly a woman without guile and never said a negative word about anyone. Surviving are her son, Stephen (Denise) Adams, Layton; daughters, Linda (David) Bjelde, Denton, TX; Barbara (Dwaine) Bair, Layton; Karen (Chris) Merrill, Eagle, ID; 21 grandchildren, Stephanie Whimpey, Kaylene Marriott, Raquel Steele, Erin Wilhelmsen, Melanie Adams, Kristen Adams, Sheila Adams, Michelle Bjelde, John Bjelde, Jeremy Bjelde, Melissa Bjelde, Jacob Bjelde, Jason Bjelde, Jared Bjelde, Seth Bair, Sam Bair, Spencer Bair, Morgan Merrill, Nicholas Merrill, Sammy Merrill, Zoe Merrill, and eight great-grandchildren. Preceded in death by her husband, three brothers and three sisters. Funeral services will be held Monday, March 30, 2009 at 11 a.m. at Lindquist’s Layton Mortuary, 1867 No. Fairfield Road. Friends and family may call Sunday from 6 to 8 p.m. and Monday from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the mortuary. Interment, Kaysville City Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the LDS Church missionary fund or to any other charity you knew she loved.