Martha L. Adams

Martha L. Adams, 87, of Lakewood, Colorado, died September 6, 2016 at Villa Manor Care Center. She had struggled many years with various illnesses, the last being Parkinson's Disease. Martha was born on February 24, 1929, to Frank Edward and Olive Lela Johnson Stevens. Martha was the fourth child out of 10 siblings and the oldest daughter. After Martha's birth, the family left Colorado for a time but eventually returned to Paonia, where Martha spent the remainder of her childhood. Martha attended Paonia High School and was part of the graduating class of 1946. Upon graduation, Martha worked as a telephone operator in Paonia for the local telephone company. Later she moved to Denver, Colorado, and lived with her uncle and aunt, Thalmer (Pete) and Gina Johnson. She then shared an apartment with Shirley Alexander Miller in Denver. Martha worked at Hilb & Company, a wholesale clothing supply business in Denver. In 1950, Martha was introduced to her future husband, Thomas Stephen Adams. They married on March 15, 1950. At that time March 15, 1950, was Tax day which was why they chose that date thinking they would never forget their anniversary. Unfortunately for them, in 1955 Tax day was changed to April 15. In 1951, Martha's first child was born. Steven Thomas was born February 26, 1951; then along came her second child, Carol Ann born April 2, 1953; and then her third and last child, Edward Frank born April 9, 1959. Martha was a homemaker and a skilled seamstress who enjoyed making clothes for her children. After her children were in school, one of her jobs was working for the Jefferson County School District assisting with the preparation of school meals at various school kitchens. In May 1976, Martha began her career with the US Federal Government. She worked for the General Services Administration as a telephone operator; as a payroll clerk with the US Bureau of Mines, US Bureau of Land Management, and Office of Surface Mining. On her birthday in 1991, Martha retired from her position as an accounting technician for the US Bureau of Reclamation. Martha had a very green thumb and so she spent the majority of her free time gardening. She became a volunteer rose bush tester for Jackson Perkins which resulted in her caring for approximately 200 rosebushes in her rose garden. She loved spending time with her grandchildren babysitting and having sleepovers. She loved to knit, crochet, and do other crafts, as well as reading light mysteries such as Agatha Christie. She also devoted time to reading her Bible which she kept at her kitchen table. She enjoyed road trips to see relatives in California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and of course, the Western Slope of Colorado. After her husband passed, she often took the AMTRACK train to Grand Junction for a visit with relatives. She enjoyed visiting various sites and national parks such as, the Black Canyon of the Gunnison, the Colorado National Monument, Black Hills and Badlands of South Dakota; the Great Sand Dunes and Mesa Verde, Colorado; Grand Canyon, Arizona; Las Vegas and Mesquite, Nevada; and Taos, New Mexico. She would also catch a bus to Black Hawk, Colorado, to meet her retirement group and try her luck at the slot machines. She participated in a Red Hat group of which she enjoyed. She also met with friends at the Village Inn for coffee a few times a week. Martha is survived by her three children and their spouses, Steve and Karen Adams of Grand Junction, CO; Carol and Peter Beatty, and Ed and Kathy Adams all of Lakewood, CO; granddaughter and grandson-in-law, Kelly and Ron Borden of Lakewood, CO; grandson, Benjamin Adams of Grand Junction, CO; granddaughter Rebekah Beatty, granddaughter and grandson-in-law, April and Nick Allen, and granddaughter Katie, all of Lakewood; great granddaughter Shaelinn of Grand Junction; great grandson Matthew and great granddaughter Amelia, both of Lakewood. Martha is also survived by three brothers and two sisters, their spouses and children; James and Ethy Stevens of Snohomish, WA; Alberta and Dale Rainwater of Riggins, ID; Paul and Mary Stevens of Olatha, CO, Mark and Diane Stevens of Medical Lake, Washington; Anna and Merle Hopper of Grand Junction, and sister-in-law Elsie Stevens of Eugene, OR. Martha was preceded in death by her husband, her mother and father, and brothers Theodore (Ted), Albert, David, and Nathan Stevens. Martha will be laid to rest next to her husband at Ft. Logan National Cemetery. A memorial service and reception will be held at Faith Mountain Church, 12344 W Alameda Pkwy, Lakewood, CO 80228, Saturday, September 17, 2016, 10:00 A.M.