Roger Sheridan Adams

Roger Sheridan Adams, beloved Patriarch of the Adams Family and Windyhurst Farm, passed away after a period of failing health surrounded by loved ones at home on the farm on May 19, 2025. He was born in Springfield, VT on September 16, 1935, to George S. Adams and Lois (Goodale) Adams. In the early days of his childhood, his parents and brothers David and Gordon lived in Uncasville, CT until his father passed away on May 3, 1948. His mother Lois later married Lawrence Leach and she and the boys moved to his farm in Westmoreland in 1951. Roger took to farm life right away and was an avid member of the FFA in high school. He took an old Cushman motor scooter to school with brother Gordon on the back, and they were often chased by a dog trying to bite their pant legs as they lost speed going uphill. He graduated from Walpole High School in 1955. After high school he worked for a local agricultural service and bred cows at farms throughout Cheshire County. His young neighbor and life-long friend Teddy Ferguson enjoyed spending time with him working around the farm as well. It was during this time that he met Eleanor (Ellie) Richardson from Marlborough on a blind date. They were married on October 4, 1958, and with the monetary gifts they received, they went on a short honeymoon and used the rest of the money to buy a silage wagon for their farm. They had three children, Paula, Stuart and Hope. Over the years the dairy farm grew, and he received the NH Green Pastures Award in 1975. His son Stuart, along with close friend John Matthews, began a sugaring operation as teenagers. Roger helped the boys build their first sugarhouse, can syrup, and with Ellie, founded the pancake house in 1975. He made homemade donuts served there for many years and kept the customers laughing with his jokes and stories. He was a Christian and long-time member of Sturtevant Chapel in Keene, where he would heartily ask for prayer for more (or less) rain, according to the current crop situation. He had a deep love for his family and the farm-almost as deep as his love for anything chocolate, especially Ellie's Hot Fudge Sauce, still served at Stuart & John's today. He always shared his nightly ice cream with his beloved dogs, and they defied all conventional veterinary wisdom and lived well into their dog years. He enjoyed pulling tractors and was well-known around New England in the 1980s for his success at bringing home trophies with his modified tractor, the Bionic Rooster. Well into his later years he continued to pull with antique tractors at many local fairs. He was an avid New England Sports fan. He enjoyed boating on the Connecticut River and even owned an airboat that he bought in the Florida Everglades and towed home to NH, blowing his truck engine on the way and arriving home with not just the airboat, but a new truck as well. He was widely known for his love of laughter, joke telling, and jovial personality. His high school yearbook quote was, "To live without laughter-that's not life, and I love life." This rang true for him until the very end. Being the true dairy farmer that he was, he worked hard his whole life and never really retired. He fed cows every morning well into his 80s, often with his dog running next to his tractor as he drove up the road and just mowed his last lawn about a week before his passing. One of his most beloved roles was as grandfather. Grampy was so proud of his family and their accomplishments, and he ended each day sitting at his kitchen table and praying for every one of them by name. He served on the Westmoreland School Board in the 1970s and was a Director at the Cheshire Fair for many years. He was an avid Farm Bureau, NH Maple Producers Association, and Granite State Dairy Promotion member. He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Ellie Adams of Westmoreland, brother Gordon Adams of Chattanooga, TN, daughter Paula (Alan) Chandler of Lempster, Son Stuart (Robyne) Adams of Westmoreland, and Daughter Hope (Ken) McGill of Walpole. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Melissa McKane (Kevin Baldwin), Alisha Adams Powell (Kevin), Chad Adams, Molly Lepisto, Megan Wright, Mark McGill (Kelly), Lindsey Sliva (Jamey), Elizabeth McGill (David Gibson), Sabrina Croteau (Seth), Franchesca Adams (Ben Mallet), Garrett Adams (Laura), Nathan Adams (Suzanne), Chad Chandler (Mary), Kaitlyn Chandler, and Christina Chandler (Mike) and Great-Grandchildren Lilly, Talin, Brynna, Joely, Amorielle, Joscelyn, Noah, Mason, McKenna, Malachi, Maveric, Mira, Caleb, Hannah, Jillian, Ellie, Emeline, Paisley, and Blake. He also leaves behind many beloved nieces, nephews, cousins, relatives, neighbors and friends. He was predeceased by his parents, George Adams and Lois Leach, his brother David Adams, and his niece Sara Adams Houghton. Calling hours will take place at Cheshire Family Funeral Home on Maple Ave in Keene, NH on June 9th from 4-7 pm. Memorial Service will be at Sturtevant Chapel in Keene, NH on June 10th at 10:00am. Following the service, guests who attended are invited to Stuart & John's Sugar House to enjoy light refreshments. At 2:45pm, immediate family and invited guests will honor Roger with a Tractor Procession from the Sugar House to the North Cemetery in Westmoreland for burial. In lieu of flowers, donations in his honor would be encouraged to Sturtevant Chapel and the Keene Community Kitchen. All services are under the care of Cheshire Family Funeral Home, Chapel, and Crematories. www.cheshirefamilyfh.com.