Rev. Allen's Obituary
Allen Jefferson Adams, 92, passed away peacefully on March 24, 2023. He was born in Patricia, Texas on August 28, 1930. He married the love of his life, LaVerne, in 1950 on Christmas Day.
A celebration of Allen’s life will be held 11:00 am on Friday, April 28th at First United Methodist Church in Great Falls. A reception will follow the service at the church. He will be interred at the United Church of Christ Columbarium in Fairfield on Saturday, June 24, 2023, at 11:00 a.m.
Allen was a story teller. He loved telling jokes (both good and bad), but the greatest story telling gift he had was the way he could make the Bible stories come to life! He wrote three books: Making Merry With Friends, Meditations for Making Merry, and Making Merry With the Psalms. Allen believed that God wanted us to Make Merry! We loved to listen to his many stories: growing up in west Texas, dancing with Laverne, stories about Allen G. and Holly, life in Montana, and travels near and far.
He knew how to make merry and have fun with his grandkids: making a Frisbee golf course all around the yard, rowing us across the Missouri River, playing his mandolin and singing “This Little Light of Mine,” playing dominoes, cards, and Cribbage; going fishing, pulling a sled behind the riding mower in the snowy yard, going out for a jog with his grandsons, and trips to Glacier Park.
The best way to honor Allen, is through the stories of his family and friends along his life journey. (More stories are being gathered and will be available at his interment with LaVerne in June. Details of that gathering in Fairfield will be posted as they are available.)
His brother Loyd recalls: My brother was born on a dry land farm in West Texas, in 1930. He was an only child for 9 years. I came along and he basically became my parent. Our sister, Genevieve, was born a few years later. Our mother and father worked the cotton fields trying to survive the weeds and droughts of the new land. Allen also chopped weeds enough to know he definitely did not want to be a farmer. At age16 he graduated high school. He was anxious to start college but mom and dad thought he was too young to leave home. At 17, he was off to McMurray College in Abilene, Texas.
Allen knew he was born to be a preacher. The tent revivals, church, and Wednesday night singing had made him sure that was his calling. Six years later after finishing seminary, he was off to become a preacher with LaVerne at his side, moving to many churches from Texas to Montana.
We didn't get to be with each other much after Allen moved to Montana. Life and age brought us back together when I moved to California. We were close enough to plan vacations together. We looked forward to sharing our tall tales and singing. So many hours were spent sitting and just talking. He was a really good brother.
Son Allen writes: He was my father and best friend and spiritual advisor, but of all the time and all the things I went through with him for my 68 years, his greatest gift to me is his peace and caring about everyone in his life. That is how I want to live my life and he showed me how to live in this world we are in and it’s for that that I have the most profound gratitude.
Daughter Holly reflects: My dad loved this life. He cherished music, drama and art. He loved feeding the birds on our deck and watching them from his chair. He loved little children and wanted them to feel that. He loved singing and played his mandolin for 4 decades. He knew that music healed the spirit and it was his companion not only in being a pastor, but in his friendships. He loved gathering to play music, to play games, share a meal, and also loved helping people.
He believed in the goodness of humanity, and that divine light and forgiveness was for all. He once told me that we say thank God it’s Friday because every Friday is Good Friday. We are forgiven all over again. Being witness with him these past weeks have not always been easy, but we did share laughs, played cards and it was Holy time. I am lucky to have been his daughter.
Daughter-in-law Mary remembers: Over the last three years Allen and I would meet every morning to do FaceTime yoga. I was the “teacher” but as it turns out Allen was the one who taught me: find joy in all things, there is always something positive, complaining doesn’t help, adapt to changes, feel free to dance and sing, there is good in everyone and if we can’t see it, God can. And, once we know that God is love, we won’t struggle anymore, we will truly know the peace and joy that surpasses understanding. Allen was blessed to experience this in his life and share his joy with us.
Grandson Adrian recalls: I don't have one, single memory to share about Grandpa Allen because he was not the kind of person that defined his life in big, singular moments. He had an effortless, joyous charisma that he carried with him at all times that was infectious to everyone who knew him. So it's not in one single moment I remember my Grandpa, but in the countless small ways he showed his love every day. I'll remember playing games as a kid in the Montana summers, when he showed me how to row a boat on the river, laughing with him at stories and jokes told over dinner, and late night chats over domino games. That's what I'll remember.
Granddaughter Audrey remembers: I cherish my relationship with my grandpa and am so happy he got to meet my children before he passed. Grandpa provided a lot of humor and wisdom throughout my life and was a wonderful storyteller. He wrote many of his stories down for us to remember and pass along to my kids. He had a gentle nature and saw the beauty in everyday things.
Allen is survived by his brother, Loyd (and Ginger) Adams; son, Allen G. Adams; daughter, Holly Adams; daughter-in-law, Mary Laffey Adams; grandchildren, Brian & Erin, Dan, Adrian & Michelle, Kelly, Audrey & Jeremy, and Tim; great-grandchildren, Jackson, Jacob, Riley, Evelyn, Marty, and Blake; as well as many family and friends who will dearly miss him.
He was preceded in death by his loving wife, LaVerne; parents, Allen and Ivetta; dear Mother-in-law, “Nino”; and sister, Genevieve.
We will miss Allen but we find joy in knowing he is now Making Merry in a grand reunion with LaVerne and all his loved ones.
