Obituary

Mack Adams

Mack Spencer Adams
1925 ~ 2012
Mack Spencer Adams passed away quietly Monday, May 7, 2012, at the age of 87. Born in Kanab, Utah, Feb. 24, 1925, the oldest son of Zeno M. Adams and Verda Spencer. Preceded in death by a son, Michael L. (Anne) Adams, and sister, Caleen (Claire) Olsen. Survived by two sisters, Challas (Lavere) Snarr and Deane (Garth) Sorensen; and a brother, Kendall (Deanie) Adams. Surviving sons and daughters: Brent (Hilary) Adams, of Midway; Lois (Gary) Bates, of West Jordan; David (Patricia) Adams, of Heber; Lynn (Paulette) Adams, of Heber; Leslie (Karl) Christensen, of West Jordan; Suzanne (Matt) Wilkinson of Mapleton; Wayne (Marie) Adams of Orem; John (Laura) Adams, of Lake Havasu, AZ; and Russell (Rebecca) Adams, of Lehi. Mack has 10 children, 47 grandchildren and about 40 great-grandchildren. Mack grew up in Midvale, Utah, and attended Bingham High School, where he was a Sterling Scholar. Drafted right out of high school into the Navy during the last year of WWII, Mack served as a helmsman on a transport ship, the USS Gen. O. H. Ernst, and became a chief petty officer. Mack attended BYU where he met and married Margaret Larsen, the love of his life. They were married in the Salt Lake Temple. He graduated from BYU with a teaching degree and started his long teaching career as the last principal of the Charleston School in the Heber Valley (where he also was one of the teachers and the janitor, too). Mack taught 7th grade mathematics for most of his career at Evergreen Junior High in Salt Lake City. He was known for not having to raise his voice in class to keep order and for his unique humor. For many years during the summer, and for many years after his retirement, Mack worked for the Forest Service. The last few years with the Forest Service Mack basically worked for free and enjoyed driving around the forest with Jim Carroll, doing the jobs that others did not care for. Mack was an avid outdoorsman… he hunted, hiked, fished and camped until too old to continue. Mack took his sons and sometimes his daughters on many camping and hunting trips, even when they were quite young. Camping for Mack was Spartan: he took his family camping in all seasons, in the backcountry, and usually with just a tent or a lean to. He had the unusual ability to find old Indian encampments and to find arrowheads. Mack served in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as a Seventy then a High Priest; among other callings, he served as a High Councilman, Ward Clerk, and Executive Secretary. He was proud of and loved and supported his children in all they did, and will be missed by all, but especially his children and grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held Friday, May 11, 2012 - 11:00 AM in the Heber 7th Ward LDS Church, 240 E 400 S, Heber City, UT. Viewings will be on Thurs. from 6:00 - 8:00 PM at Olpin-Hoopes Funeral Home, 288 N Main, Heber and on Friday from 9:30-10:30 AM at the LDS Church. Interment will follow the services in the Heber City Cemetery with Military Honors. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.olpinhoopes.com

Obituary taken from Deseret News.