Amy C. Adams

Amy C. Adams
March 2, 1936 - May 25, 2014
Amy Cecilia Adams, 78, passed away Sunday, May 25, 2014.
I didn't get everything accomplished I wanted to, so I left it for the kids. The weeds, the garden, the leaky faucets and all my possessions I really did not need after all, and last, but not least, my love.
I was born in the first cement block house in Moreland, Idaho on March 2, 1936, to Leo Lionel Johnson and Mary Hatch Johnson. I passed away on May 25, 2014 in Pocatello, Idaho from pancreatic cancer, with my loving children by my side.
I grew up in Moreland, going to school in the old yellow brick school house up to the 6th grade. Then off to Riverside for one year until schools consolidated again. For 7th and 8th grades, I was in Thomas and graduated from Jr. High in 1950. I went back to Moreland for my high school education and graduated from there May of 1954.
My growing up years in Moreland consisted of cutting potatoes in the spring for planting, and thinning beets. In the fall I picked potatoes. From this I could buy my clothing and other essentials. I also babysat for 25 cents an hour quite often. Our swimming consisted of a canal nearby, I never learned to swim.
I worked at a cafe for a short time, then worked at the Blackfoot Army Store. Needing more and a better pay, I went to work at the telephone company in Blackfoot (MaBell) until my marriage to James Murray on November 17, 1956. I transferred to the Pocatello office and we made our home in Pocatello.
Then along came 5 wonderful kids; Rhonda Kaye in 1957, Rollie James in 1958, Brian "S" in 1959, Gail Ann in 1961, and Quintin Alan in 1963. Being a busy mom, I got to be a stay-at-home mom, which by the way is a lot of work. As the kids grew and survived all the childhood diseases, I took a job at a local motel in Pocatello for 2 years.
Being persuaded by two good friends, I applied at the Bannock County Nursing Home. This was a good place to work, it consisted of 58 beds. The other aides were great to work with and I enjoyed working there until changes started taking place. I started working there February 27, 1972 and retired on February 26, 1998, working a total of 26 years.
While being married to Jim, we would take the kids camping, fishing and cutting timber in the Island Park area. Jim and I built a house in Chubbuck and then later up Walker Creek. Jim and I were divorced in 1978.
I met Garry Adams and was told if I wanted to be married it would have to be done on February 29th 1980, or wait 4 more years on leap year. I purchased a home in McCammon for me and my 5 kids and a grandson. I still made the early commute to Pocatello for work.
Garry and I did a lot of fishing and hunting. Every weekend we would either be fishing or driving around Soda, Grace, Lava, or any other mountain area we had not explored. During hunting season, I had the somewhat pleasure of cutting and wrapping deer, elk, grouse, geese, morning doves, or any other game brought into the house. Except the moose Garry shot, it was sent to Lava to be processed.
I survived Garry's fetishes of buying boats, campers, 3 wheelers, 4 wheelers (which I used to plow snow in McCammon in the winters), motorcycles, a gun collection of over 120 guns, shell loading, jewelry making, painting (complements of Bob Ross), and leather craft. Garry retired from ITD in 1996 and was diagnosed later with congestive heart failure and died on December 12, 2002.
I moved from McCammon in 2004 to Pocatello because 4 of my 5 kids lived there. I bought a house on Howard St. and then another on Park Avenue, right uptown. I enjoyed yard sales, working in the yard, reading books, especially Westerns, and raising a garden. I have raised a garden almost every year to feed my kids and myself. I hope someone uses my garden patch. I have canned everything I could, veggies, fruits, jams, jellies of every kind, fish, and even venison.
I am preceded in death by my husband Garry C. Adams, my father and mother; brothers Jay Johnson and stillborn brother Alton. I am survived by my 5 children; Rhonda Nesser (Dave), Rollie Murray (Julia), Gail (Brent) and Quintin Murray, all of Pocatello and Brian Murray (Juanita) of Sierra Vista Arizona; my sister Virginia Auwen of Pullman Washington, and my spoiled, but loved Chihuahua puppy, Gidget. I have 7 grandkids and 8 great-grandkids, plus step grandkids and great-grandkids.
Graveside services will be at Restlawn Cemetery in Pocatello, after my last ride in my red pickup. There I will be joining my husband, Garry, and best friend, Dorothy. Instead of flowers, donations would be great to the animal shelter, Aid to Friends, the Senior Center, or something of your own choice.
Chaplin Kirk Bitton has offered to conduct graveside prayers and services.
A big "thanks" to the wonderful care of the Encompass Hospice staff, also the staff at the Cancer Center (Dr. Ririe) during my chemo. Thank you to my friend, Trish, for doing my last hairdo. Also, my other family, Nathan and Jamie Wells family, for dinners and home visits and Patsy and Rory Siaperas. There will be a luncheon, following a private family graveside service, at the LDS Church, 655 S. Grant Avenue, Pocatello, compliments of daughter-in-law, Loni Murray, then on to 626 W. Bonneville for family and friends to hangout.
My love and a very big thank you to all those caregivers who made my life easier and found a final chair. Hope you did not get injured.
Life goes on even tho someone is missing. Take care of yourselves. Best wishes to you all. Goodbye for now, see ya later tater.
Condolences can be made to the family online at www.colonial-funeralhome.com