Neal Larry Adams

Neal Larry Adams died March 1, 2018, surrounded by his loving family at Toledo Hospital following complications from heart surgery. He was 83.

Larry was born in Detroit to Ray and Catherine (Mahon) Adams on Jan. 15, 1935. He was a graduate of Eastern High School in Detroit, where he met his future bride, Marilyn Crist. They were wed on Nov. 25, 1954 in Detroit, and she survives.

Larry worked as a banker and then a baker at Wonder Bread in Detroit where he was also involved in union activities. He was a lifelong advocate of working men and women. He later worked for the water department for Nankin Township which later became the City of Westland. He retired from there in 1991 after 29 years of service and then moved to Tecumseh where he helped build his retirement home.

One of Larry’s favorite phrases was, “God loves a working man,” and he exemplified those words throughout his life. He was not afraid to work no matter what the job was and by example, he instilled a strong work ethic into each of his eight children. Larry was happiest when he was working and especially so if he was helping someone else. While he was officially “retired” for more than 25 years, he found his talents needed in a variety of different ways, from running a backhoe and bulldozer to driving a school bus for St. Joseph’s Academy to delivering Meals on Wheels, something he was doing right up to his recent hospitalization. He also worked diligently as a volunteer to help form the Tecumseh District Library. His Tecumseh neighborhood will miss him and his snow blower during the next snowstorm.

Larry was a great storyteller and his often-repeated stories became family lore. He was also a member of the “Liars Club,” a group of Tecumseh retirees who gather for coffee each morning and whose discussions include, among other things, solutions to many of the world’s problems.

Larry was immensely proud of his children and he gave them each three things: faith, a sense of humor and each other. And he was equally proud of his many grandchildren; in retirement he traveled to see many of them participate in a wide variety of sports and activities. Larry was a lifelong baseball, football and hockey fan. And he was always central to the Adams Family’s annual March Madness gathering which coincides with the opening of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament. His presence will be missed this year, the 20th annual.

He was a dedicated member of St. Elizabeth’s Catholic Church, a member of the Knights of Columbus and the men’s disciple group, where he will be missed.

Besides his wife, survivors include eight children: Pam Sweeney of Conway, Ark.; Paula Adams of Chicago; Lisa (Roger) Hart of Tecumseh; Shawn (Nicole) Adams of Chicago; Kevin (Ronna) Adams of Walkertown, N.C.; Laura Adams of Chicago; Kristina (Monte) Spence of Carmel, Ind., and Sherri (Steve) Ehrenberg of Longmeadow, Mass; one sister, Eileen; 22 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, five brothers and two sisters.

Visitation will be at St. Elizabeth Catholic Church today from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. with a Vigil Prayer Service at 7 p.m.  A Mass of Christian Burial will be Saturday, March 3, 2018 at 11 a.m. at the church with Fr. Daniel Wheeler as celebrant with a visitation one hour before the service. Burial will follow funeral services in Brookside Cemetery and a luncheon at St. Elizabeth’s will follow. Memorial contributions are suggested to the Tecumseh District Library, St. Elizabeth Catholic Church or the Capuchin Soup Kitchen, 1820 Mount Elliott Street, Detroit 48297.

Arrangements are under the care of the Tecumseh Chapel of Handler Funeral Homes. Condolences may be offered to the family at www.handlerfuneralhomes.com.