On Sunday, Alice Maria (Vaughn) Adams went to catch up with her husband of 58 years Louis Garfield Adams, Jr. who predeceased her on June 14, 2020. She passed peacefully due to cardiomyopathy (broken heart syndrome). She was 95 years young. They are together for eternity.

Born Sept. 20, 1925 on the front porch of her family’s Hyampom home to her late parents Rebecca Lydia (Trimble) and Deforest Hubert Vaughn, Alice was their fourth child (of six) and named after her father’s sister. She was a Native American of the Wintu Tribe of Trinity County and a descendent of the Trimble, Olson and Greenleaf families. Her husband always joked about her saying no one’s born in Hyampom. She learned to cook at the wood stove standing on a wood box. She was a master sewer, making clothes, crocheting, tatting (making lace) and quilting. Alice liked to read and draw. She raised canaries, Pekingnese dogs, grew African Violets and loved  working in her roses. She was passionate about education and that her children learn the piano. There were always children and animals around her. She gave of herself tirelessly. 

Alice’s father worked for the Forest Service and died in a fire in Junction City, so her mama moved her children to Arcata where Alice attended Arcata High School. Alice moved to San Francisco, working for the Woolworth Company then transferring to Eureka’s Woolworth Store when she was ready to return to Humboldt County. She lived on McFarlan Street in Eureka.

Alice met and married Monroe Steven Harrell and moved to Louisiana. Alice’s mama purchased 2610 Hall Ave. where Alice’s niece Elaine and her family still reside today. Her mama also purchased the property around it and gave each of her children a piece of property. Alice chose her property at 3870 Wellington St. and built her house. She would become a widow at a young age.  Her family was very close. She helped raise many of her family members and others throughout her life. Her niece never wanted to leave her Aunt Alice so she would hide under the table … Oh, Elaine.

Alice worked picking ferns with her family members. She made her career raising children and in the care home profession taking her children to work with her. She worked at the Char-Mac Sylvest Rest home for ladies and at her late brother Harold’s Hall Avenue Rest home up the street from her house.  She worked well into her 80s.

Alice met her soul mate Louie Adams at the Powder Horn. He told her he was going to marry her and two months later, on Dec. 31, 1963, they wed at the Lutheran Church on South Street in Eureka. Louie and Alice made their house a home raising their three children — two daughters, Theresa Marie and Alta May, and son Michael Lee Adams. She was affectionately known as Mrs. A and everyone would call her “grama.”

Alice learned to drive at age 42.  She faithfully attended her children and grand and great grand children’s school, sports and music functions. She outlived her immediate family: her beloved sister Alta Mae Vaughn Valentine, brothers and sister in laws Charles, Merle (Mary), Harold (Alene Sorrells, Rita), Kenny (Georgia Pena) Vaughn. It is stated that she outlived her whole generation of the old family.

Alice loved camping at Junction City Campground and tubing down the Trinity River she always told stories about the CCC boys and the work camp that used to inhabit the campground when she was young and the old Chinese men that sat in front of the Joss House in Weaverville who use to try and scare her and the other kids when they walked by.  She had many, many stories growing up with all her family. She was tough.

The Creator has taken the storyteller home to her people. Her daughter Alta May Adams (4/26/1969-6/27/2008) and granddaughter Lyndsay Marie Barrera (4/21/1994-5/25/2008) precede her in death. She is survived by her daughter, Theresa Marie Adams of Rio Dell, and son, Michael Lee Adams and daughter in law Lian Darrow both from the Bay Area. Dolores Bastian her sister in law from Fortuna, many nieces, nephews and cousins.  Her grandchildren: Theresa’s son David Louis Adams. Michael’s children Lee Anthony, Haley Maria (Tyler Bessette), Michaela Rebecca Adams of the Bay Area, Christina McGraw of Eureka, Hannah Rose Jenkins. Her great grandchildren Ava and Steven McGraw Owens. Thank you for keeping Grama and Grampa young. Love you, Kahala, Neveah and Alia Adams. 

Pall Bearers will be her grandson David Adams, great grandson Devin Lee Williams. Honorary Pall Bearers: her son Michael Lee Adams, her cousin Danny Vaughn from Hawkins Bar, her nephew Leroy “Pee Wee” Joy of Redway, her friend Jefferson Lyndsay Sanders of Rio Dell and great grandson Steven Owens.

The family wish to thank cousin Shirley Lyn Vaughn Mitchell for being there at Timber Ridge for mom after dad passed. Love you with all our hearts and are glad that you, her niece, was the last face of family she saw. Bless you, Redwoods Rural Health Center-Dental for the beautiful double blossom flowering tree and your support. Also thanks to Ocean View Cemetery,  Sanders Funeral Home, Lost Coast Outpost, and to all of you who have brought food, flowers or sent a card or phoned thank you. 

There will be a viewing on Wednesday, Aug. 13 from 4-8 p.m. at Sanders Funeral Home in Eureka. A funeral will be held Aug. 14 at 1 p.m. at Sanders Funeral Home for her and Louie. Unfortunately due to the Covid there will only be 10 people allowed in chapel for the service, however, we encourage anyone who wants to pay their last respects to please attend the viewing and the celebration of life/potluck for her and dad following the service at Sequoia Park W St Eureka Ca. Please bring your favorite dish and a story. Correspondence may be directed to 945 Webb Ln; Rio Dell, Ca 95562/707 740 3393.

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