Leslie Rhoads Adamson

Leslie Rhoads Adamson, loving wife, mother, sister and daughter, passed away on the night of October 29, 2025, after a long, brave fight against Stage 4 Breast Cancer. She is survived by her husband, Michael Adamson, and two of her sons Evyn and Zachary, and joins her firstborn, James, who passed away in 2002. She is also survived by her father and mother, Randy and Sharon Rhoads, and her nine siblings: Tracy, Dusty, Natalie, Becky, Candice, Sunny, TJ, Austin and Dallin.
Born on April 29, 1971, in Blackwell, Oklahoma, Leslie grew up in Texas City, Texas, graduating from Texas City High School in 1989, where she learned to play the flute and took part in the marching band. She received the prestigious Benson Scholarship and attended Brigham Young University, where she earned a bachelor's degree in Family Sciences in 1993. During her studies, she worked as a Building Custodian and also met Michael Adamson. The two of them were married in the Provo Temple on March 22, 1991.
Following her graduation, the couple moved to New York City, where she worked as an Account Manager for O. C. Tanner & Company while Michael attended New York University. They moved back to Utah following Michael's graduation in 1995.
Leslie gave birth to their first son, James, on November 18, 1997. He was born with the rare CHARGE Syndrome, which left him bedridden and unable to talk for the rest of his life. She displayed the loving, selfless, patient, kind and gentle manner for which she is so well known, as she taught us the meaning of motherhood by the way she took care of him, night after night.
Following James' passing, Leslie continued to work as a paralegal for John Jacobs, Attorney-at-law, until Evyn was born on January 12, 2005, when she chose to come home and be a full-time mother. She gave birth to their third son, Zachary, on March 10, 2008. Two years later, Zach was diagnosed with severe, nonverbal autism and, again, her legendary patience and unflappable demeanor taught a sermon on how to live these Christ-like attributes.
An active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Leslie embodied what it means to live as a true Christian. She did not just teach the principles she believed in, she lived by them. With hardly ever a harsh word, she devoted her entire life to serving other people, especially her family, and did so without complaint or bitterness, even when the trials she faced were unbearable. She met those trials with uncommon bravery, beat them down with her beautiful smile and fought them back with laughter and almost super-human patience.
She loved to cook and bake (her sweet potatoes and pecan pies will be sorely missed), watch black and white classic movies, chick-flicks, read Jane Austin novels, take care of the garden, embroider, and listen to 80's and country music.
Leslie was diagnosed with Stage 4 Breast Cancer on August 13, 2021, and again she met this new challenge with a smile, bravery and quiet dignity. She passed away peacefully at American Fork Hospital.
We will miss you, Leslie, and will always remember the lessons your life taught us. We have all become better people because of you.
Funeral Services will be Saturday, November 8, 2025, at 11am in the Garden Stake Center, 1028 West 1000 North, Pleasant Grove. Family and friends may visit that morning at the church from 9-10:30am. Interment will be in the Orem City Cemetery. A webcast of the service will be available at www.walkersanderson.com.