Adams
Laura Victoria (Helsby) Adams was born May 24, 1922 to James and Edith Helsby.
She was born at home just a few miles from Hemaruka and was the youngest of three, having two older brothers, Herbert and John.
Laura passed away in the Hanna Hospital on Dec. 8, 2019 at the age of 97.
Laura married Donald Jackson Adams on Aug. 3, 1944.
To this union, one daughter, Shirley Edythe was born on Dec. 25, 1948.
Shirley married Bill Powell and they had four children: Shelli, Calvin, Nicole and Holly.
Don and Laura worked side by side from 1944 to 2001 when they moved from the farm into Youngstown.
Don was ready to move but Laura wasn’t, as she couldn’t imagine what she would do in Youngstown – no cattle to chase or check on during calving season.
Laura liked speed whether it was on her three-wheeler or in her car.
That three-wheeler gave Don nightmares as she would take the corner on two wheels.
He was always reprimanding her, but he should have known better as Laura lived life on her own terms.
Laura worked hard whether it was in the field, stacking square bales, tending to her animals or cooking delicious meals.
She was little, but she was mighty.
Laura was an active member in the home and school and Royal Purple, catering to weddings and participating in many other fundraising events.
Laura received her 10-year pin for volunteering with the Cancer Society.
Back in the day a lot of visiting was done on Sundays.
Don and Laura always had company or were at the home of friends.
There were lots of games played but there was nothing like a rowdy game of spoons.
Mom always had long nails and most people left the game wounded.
Many winter memories surround the snowmobile that Don and Laura bought.
They turned an old car hood into a sleigh and children and adults alike enjoyed the fun.
One winter the roads were impassable so Laura took Shirley the three miles to school in the car hood pulled by a Shetland pony.
Every day when the pony got to Garland’s trees the pony would turn on a dime and be headed home.
One day Laura took a whip and when the pony was going to turn she jumped out of the car hood and stopped the pony, but he ended up in a ditch full of snow, high centred.
She had to tramp all the snow down so the pony could get back up on the road. It worked though, and the pony never tried it again.
After the passing of Don, Laura stayed in their home in Youngstown up until late November when she went into hospital.
Prior to that, she did her own housework and cooking.
She made pies for the grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
The great-grandchildren would go to great-grandma’s to hang out until it was time for their sporting events tostart or while waiting for a ride home.
Quite often there was a meal involved with this stay.
If you weren’t there for a meal you weren’t allowed to leave without a treat or two.
Some of the favourites were thick iced tea, mint patties and chocolate-covered almonds, and chocolate bars and ice cream treats from the freezer.
Family Feud or another game show would always be playing on the TV in the background.
Laura was blessed with four grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren and loved every one of them.
Her grandchildren and great-grandchildren were her life.
She loved their visits and hearing of their latest adventures.
An important part of her Christmas gift to each member of the family every year was their own Bachelor cake – she made 28 in 2018.
Laura’s kitchen was her domain and she had cooked her traditional New Year’s dinner for all 25 of us for many years, including last year’s meal.
Laura is survived by her daughter Shirley and son-in-law Bill; Shelli and Troy Tattrie and their children Brody, Jaxen, Dixon and Rhett; Calvin and Haley Powell and their children Jace, Keldon, Dalton and Andi; Nicole and Wes Gillies and their children Bryden, Grady, Trystyn, and Saydie; and Holly and Darryl Conners and their children Keegan, Taylor and Kiptyn.
Also Laura’s sister-in-law Doll and two nephews, Stan (Trudy) Helsby and Glen Helsby and their families.
Laura was predeceased by her husband of 66 years, Donald, mother and father, James and Edith Helsby and mother and father-in-law Hugh and Laura Adams, and brothers Herbert and John Helsby.
Card of Thanks
Special thanks to all the grandchildren and great-grandchildren for being there for Laura right to the end.
Also, thank you to Dr. Fortna and the staff at the Hanna Hospital.
Shirley would like to thank her friends for being so good to her Mom over the years with meals and visits.
When you live to be 97 you don’t have many of your own friends left and these kindnesses were very much appreciated.
Also, thank you to relatives Stan and Trudy Helsby, Larry and Edith Schneider and David Ross for their visits.
Laura was under the thoughtful and watchful eye of neighbours, Murray and Mavis Palmer, for which we will always be grateful.
We believe Mom lived this quote to the fullest: “Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well-preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming “Wow! What a ride!” – Hunter S Thompson
Service
A memorial service was held on Sun. Dec. 14, 2019, 1 p.m. at the Youngstown Community Hall, Youngstown, Alta.
Interment took place prior to the service at the Youngstown Cemetery.
Hanna Funeral Services Ltd. was entrusted with the care and arrangements, 403-854-5956, www.hannafuneral.ca.
