Nancy Morris Adams

Our “true free spirit”, Nancy Morris Adams, passed away Thursday, October 14,  2021, surrounded by family. Music was playing, songs were sung, and the windows were wide open (because Nancy always insisted that she needed to feel the night air). 

Nancy was born in Lincoln, Massachusetts in 1936, the daughter of Irene and Robert Morris. She spent much of her youth in her beloved town of Lincoln (and her beloved “Lincoln gang”) but spent summers in New Hampshire and Maine visiting grandparents with her younger sister, Sally. Between Nancy’s sophomore and junior years of high school, her father’s work transferred the family to Las Vegas and then again to the South Pacific during her senior year. They spent four months in Hawaii, just off Waikiki Beach, before moving back to Las Vegas to finish high school. Nancy then attended Colby Junior College (now Colby Sawyer) in New London, New Hampshire- a two-year girls’ school at the time. Anyone who knew Nancy knew she needed more diversity than that! She and her friends would make frequent trips to Dartmouth College as it was only 30 miles up the road. During her second year at Colby, Nancy met Sam Adams at one of Dartmouth’s Outing Club events. Sam was a freshman studying geology at Dartmouth.

She and her husband-partner-best friend, Samuel Sherman Adams, were married on August 23, 1958, in Lincoln, Massachusetts. Although Nancy’s careers were varied, her most beloved and important job was always being Sam Adams’ partner. They were truly independent souls that lived harmoniously together. She was by his side while raising their three children (Mindy, Katie, and Jonathan), as Sam earned his B.S. and M.S. at Dartmouth College and Ph.D. at Harvard University.

Sam and Nancy left no stone unturned. They were the definition of adventurous and loved everything outdoors. They hiked, camped, skied, fly-fished, and traveled the world together. One of their favorite hobbies was exploring the backroads in their Volkswagen camper, “Blu-Ox”. They spent almost 50 years together before Sam passed away in 2006 after his battle against cancer. 

Nancy was truly one of a kind, a free spirit, and had a smile that could light up any room. Her jovial outlook on life and infectious personality was unparalleled. She was bold, bright, and unapologetically herself; the type of person you admired for choosing joy and happiness, in the best and worst of times. She was always determined to find ways to improve herself, never being one to sit still for too long. One of her earlier adventures was starting a group called “Travel to Music” for which she would organize trips for people to visit music events all over the United States and abroad.  She was also a beautiful writer, writing several texts about her life. There is no doubt that Nancy Adams left a lasting impression on this world. 

Nancy always shared her admiration and pride for her family. She is predeceased by her eldest daughter Melinda McGregor and her husband Samuel Adams. She is survived by beloved family members: her sister Sally Hayen of Carlisle, MA; her daughter Katie and her husband Dan Moran of Jonesport, ME; her son Jonathan and his wife Angela Adams of Thornton, NH; her grandson Adam and his wife Jessica Moran of Sparks, NV; her granddaughter Molly and her husband Chance LeBlanc and their daughter (Nancy’s great-granddaughter) Hadley LeBlanc of Bixby, OK; her granddaughters Megan McGregor and Leeson Adams of Boston, MA; and her granddaughter MacKenzie Adams of Greenville, SC. Her family takes comfort in the many wonderful memories she created with them. 

There will be no calling hours or services at the request of the family. A celebration of life will be held at a later date. Family and friends may make donations in her memory to the Alzheimer’s Association.

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