A. Jared (“Jerry”) Adams went to be with his Lord on Thursday, January 25, 2024. He died peacefully at home with loved ones around him after his long illness recently turned severe. Jerry is survived by his beloved wife of 59 years, Barbara, and the three daughters of whom he was so proud, Andrea Adams (James Hilliard), Beth Peck (David Peck), and Sarah Adams (Edward Kay), along with his cherished grandchildren, Sean and Erin Joy Peck and Audra, Asher, Berknesh, Micah, and Sione Zumwalt. Jerry was predeceased by his parents, Alton and Charlotte Adams and his sisters Margaret Hotaling and Marion Adams.
Jerry was born on May 12, 1941 in Deposit, NY. At age 14, he was licensed as amateur radio operator K2TDV and for the rest of his life enjoyed talking to other hams around the world. Jerry graduated from Binghamton North High School and enlisted in the U.S. Army, where he served for “2 years, 11 months, and 21 days.” After his honorable discharge, Jerry enrolled at Broome Technical Community College, where he earned his Associate’s Degree in Electrical Technology. He spent the bulk of his career at NYSEG, retiring as Manager of Operational Services.
More importantly, on the first day of college, Jerry met the love of his life while passing Lifesavers on toothpicks at a freshman mixer. Jerry and Barbara were married on August 15, 1964 in Binghamton. After a few years, they found the perfect place to raise their family and bought a farm with wooded acres on Fairfield Road in the Town of Candor. Those woods gave Jerry many gallons of maple syrup and decades of hunting with his dear friends. His girls spent long summer days in the pond he had built, and he patiently baited countless fish hooks for his grandkids.
Called to generous service by his deep faith, Jerry gave to his community in many ways. He volunteered as a board member for the Weltonville Volunteer Fire Company and served on the Newark Valley Board of Education for 23 years, including 10 years as its President. Over the decades, he held countless leadership roles at the Newark Valley United Methodist Church, where he could be found every Sunday.
After retirement, Jerry often enjoyed a Sunday drive in one of his antique Chevrolets with his partner by his side. Jerry and Barb developed a vast network of deep friendships as they toured the country with their car club and were proud to organize 3 national car tours. Throughout the rest of his life, Jerry continued to serve through volunteer trips to Ecuador and Haiti with Men for Missions, where he hiked up mountains to fix radio towers that spread the Good News. He served on the Board of Directors of Tioga County Habitat for Humanity, where he not only provided leadership but wired houses. In recent years, he volunteered as a board member with Tioga County Rural Ministry, serving last year as its President.
Jerry was known far and wide as a generous and reliable neighbor, always willing to lend a hand or a tool. He formed a special bond in his later years with new Amish neighbors, who shared his deepest values of faith, family, and community.
To his family, Jerry was a steadfast husband and devoted father who modeled a life of hard work, generosity, and prayer. He had a special relationship with each grandchild. They will remember him for his knee squeezes, teaching them to fish, countless rides on the Ranger, sharing his “smart pills,” driving lessons accompanied by life lessons and stories, supporting them in their athletics and other passions, science quizzes, teasingly small servings of ice cream, offers to buy them jeans without holes, and unconditional love.
Jerry’s family will receive friends on Monday, January 29 from 4-7 PM at MacPherson Funeral Home, 5 Whig St. Newark Valley, NY. A Memorial Service will be held at the First United Methodist Church, 63 S. Main St., Newark Valley, NY Tuesday January 30 at 11 AM with his Pastor Brandilynne Craver officiating. The family will provide flowers, but you are invited to make gifts in Jerry’s honor to the First United Methodist Church or to Tioga County Rural Ministry, 143 North Ave., Owego, NY 13827. Memories and condolences can be shared online in Jerry’s guestbook at macphersonfh.com
Posted online on January 26, 2024
Published in Press & Sun-Bulletin
