Mary Lynn Elgan Adams

Mary Lynn Elgan Adams, 83, of Snowflake, AZ returned to her Heavenly Father November 6, 2021 while surrounded by her loving family.  She resided at The Carriage House where she had several dear friends and received the best of care.

She was born October 12, 1938 to Jesse Hoyt Elgan and Estella Lenora Bybee Elgan in Brigham City, Utah.  She was their fourth and last child, joining siblings, Janice, Jess, and Douglas.

Mary grew up in Idaho Falls and Salmon, Idaho until the age of 11 when her family moved to Mesa, Arizona.  She was a 1956 graduate of Mesa High School.  She was an accomplished swimmer, saxophonist, pianist, alto singer, seamstress, as well as a voracious reader.  She was blessed with an incredible intellect and was especially drawn to all things pertaining to biology and chemistry. 

Mary Lynn earned a Bachelor of Science from Arizona State University and a MT from St. Joseph’s Hospital in Phoenix, AZ.  She became a Medical Technologist and found this work fascinating.  She also graduated in both Seminary and Institute from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

While attending Arizona State University, she met a tall and handsome man, Gary Grant Adams.  They were married for time and all eternity in the Mesa, Arizona Temple on January 22, 1960.  They were blessed with five children: Kumen G, Jennifer Lynn, Lynnette, Elizabeth, and Nathaniel Jess. 

She and Gary primarily raised their children in Florence, Arizona, where he taught Industrial Arts and History.  Mary Lynn worked at the hospital, health department, and at Ross Laboratories for several years.  They resided in Florence for 40 years until their health began to decline.  Many members of the Florence Branch of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints became their dear, dear friends.

Mary Lynn served faithfully in many capacities but her most favorite callings were being an early morning Seminary teacher, Gospel Doctrine teacher, and temple worker.  Special assignments that she and Gary were called to included teaching the gospel at the Arizona State Prison and working at the Church Cannery in Mesa, AZ.  After Gary’s passing in 2008, she also served a mission along side her grandson, Kenyon Shipton, at the Family History Center in Salt Lake City, UT. 

She was preceded in death by her husband, parents and all three siblings.  She is survived by her children: Kumen (Nancy) Adams of Pinedale, AZ; Jennifer (Scott) Shipton of Rigby, ID; Lynnette (Paul) Beatty of Snowflake, AZ; Elizabeth (Shaun) Davis of Clay Springs, AZ; and Nathaniel/Sam, (Cari) Adams of Nampa, ID. Her greatest joy is her posterity of 5 children, 30 grandchildren, and 34 great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, November 13, 2021. The viewing will be at 1:00 pm and the funeral will follow beginning at 2:00 pm at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 5150 Highway 260, Clay Springs, Arizona. Her burial will be at the Clay Springs Cemetery, 4973 Cemetery Rd.

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