1926 – 2015
AUBURN — J. Wesley Adams, 88, of Clover Manor and formerly of Canton, died Sunday, June 7, with his family by his side.
He was born in Canton on Aug. 25, 1926, a son of Bernard Sr. and Julia Hayden Adams.
He married Marie Pratt in May 1948, whom he met at the Saturday night dances at Canton Point. They lived in Canton, where they made a home for their four children.
Wes worked at Bailey Bros. early in his married life and retired from Boise Cascade in his early 60s. After retirement, he pursued his many passions. He was a genius who could make or repair anything he needed — from building a camper trailer with his father-in-law to designing and creating all kinds of small and large equipment he needed on his small hobby farm, to building snowmobiles and motorcycles for his children to enjoy, to the fine craftsmanship required on the model schooner he built in his 70s. One of his greatest prides is the skidder he built that his children and grandson used to compete at the Woodsmen’s Day Skidder Competition at local fairs. He also designed, built and sold three mini-skidders and a forwarder.
He enjoyed fishing with his nephew and his grandson and loved eating his fresh catch. He also enjoyed eating the many, many pies his wife made for him during their 60-year marriage. His daughters have calculated it was about 6,000 pies.
Wes was an avid lover of antique engines. In his retirement, he routinely visited every antique engine show he could find.
He was always worried about his family and routinely told his children and grandchildren to drive carefully. He will be sorely missed.
He is survived by his two daughters, Marianne A. Snow of New Gloucester and companion, Marc Bernier, of Auburn, and Kay A. Doucette and husband, Russ, of Scarborough; brother, Bernard Jr. of Canton; daughter-in-law, Connie Adams of Canton; grandchildren, Erik Adams and wife, Roseann, Travis Adams and wife, Becky, and Erica and Tyler Snow; and great-grandchildren, Alexandria, Matthew, Austin and Brayden Adams.
He was predeceased by his wife, Marie; and two sons, Kenneth and Donald Adams.
The family would like to express their sincere gratitude to the staff at Clover Manor for the loving care they gave Wes. The family is very humbled by the large number of staff who expressed their condolences and love for Wes during his final days.
Online condolences and photo gallery at www.thefortingrouplewiston.com.
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