Dana R. Adams
Dana R. Adams died July 29, 2010 at the Hopewell Hospice Home in Portland following a year-long struggle with kidney failure.
She was born in Missoula, Mont. July 1937 to Dan and Noreen Mattovich. Dana was preceded in death by her parents and sister Arlene. She is survived by her loving husband of 33 years, Gene, and six children: Dan Nearants and wife Beverly; Shawna Hedin; Jennifer Wesley and friend Brad Reed; Chris Adams, Todd Adams and wife Helen; and Travis Adams. She was also very proud and loving towards her 13 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Dana graduated from Grant High School in Portland in 1955 and attended WSU and the University of Montana. She held various jobs in California and Montana and eventually arrived in Goldendale during the late 1960s. She worked for the DOT as office manager until her retirement in 1992. The past 18 years of retirement have been action packed.
Dana spent much time organizing and attending family gatherings at Fish Crick and Lolo Hot Springs in Montana. And, being from Montana she could shoot a rifle much better than any girl from Alaska. Dana also enjoyed the many family gatherings in Anacortes and along the Oregon Coast.
Dana absolutely loved the water and we spent a great deal of time canoeing and rafting the Columbia, Yakima, Deschutes, and Klickitat rivers. She managed to catch just about every species of fish known to mankind including carp and dog fish. She also loved trips to Anacortes where we fished and caught large numbers of crab each year. Dana would vacuum-pack the crab meat so everyone could enjoy crab all year round.
Dana was an excellent cook and believed in wasting nothing – which involved her one time successful experience with carp chowder. It was great – ask Harry.
Dana also loved the boating trips to the American and Canadian San Juan Islands. We spent an entire summer of good camping, boating and fishing in British Columbia and Alaska. The next summer we camped along the Oregon and California coasts eventually working our way in the Baja.
Dana was an excellent card player and insisted that her kids would be also. We made it a practice to take each child to Reno on their 21st birthday. They all know how to win at black jack.
Dana was also an avid reader and had a book by her side at Hopewell House. She also enjoyed gardening and making things grow.
There is now a very large vacant space in our lives and it will never be filled except perhaps by memories. Love you Dana.
Dana asked that no memorial service be held and we will honor her wish.
