George Albert Adams Jr. (1891-1969) George Albert Adams George Albert Adams was born March 17, 1891 in Monticello, Utah, the eldest son of George Albert and Evelyn Mortensen Adams. He died December 26, 1969 in the Veterans Hospital, Phoenix, Arizona. His health had been impaired for two years do to a blood clot operation. A second operation ten days before put him in intensive care in the hospital until his death. His early years were spent at Verdure until his parents moved to Monticello. It was at Verdure when his father was called on a mission. Eight year old Bert and his mother cared for the farm and the cattle during his absence. This youthful son came to know the rugged pioneer life; of the Indian raids; of the outlaw cowboys. Bert and his sisters, Nean and Zola milked fifty head of wild cows for a time at Dodge. They made cheese and butter and took it to market in Durango. Bert finished school at Monticello and then went to the Brigham Young University. At the Y, he showed promise for career in voice and was advised to go to New York for further study. After two years in New York he received a mission call and was assigned to the Eastern States Mission. While on his mission he was given the advantage of hearing many fine concerts. He had completed his mission at the outbreak of the First World War and was soon in uniform in the hospital corps in France. How he hated war! He returned to New York for further study and had a studio at Carnegie Hall, where he came to know many great singers and instrumentalists of that era. Later, for money and experience, he joined the Merry Widow Opera Company as a understudy for the principal role of Prince Daniello. He toured with them throughout the United States and Canada. At the completion of this tour, Bert began rehearsing with an Opera Company in New York. A new venture, opera in English. They began by trying out in the large cities along the Atlantic seaboard. The venture was not successful. It was at this time Bert's health broke from which he never recovered. He went to his sister Hazel in Wyoming for eight months, trying to recover. From there he went to Monticello. After the death of his parents he tried such projects as turkey growing and he worked on war projects. His health did not improve. His sister Zola needed help in keeping up her grounds at her home in Provo and he made his home with her for the rest of his life. When Zola went to Mesa, Arizona, he went with her and made her grounds, her citrus trees, her roses and her swimming pool a delight for all who came, and her friends are many. Bert had to give up producing music but he never gave up music, thanks to records and television. He never missed hearing the grand Opera Saturday broadcasts. Here, he relived the life that he longed for, but never achieved. The opera scores, the costumes, the ballet, the stage sets came alive for him. Often as he was listening, I saw the pangs of nostalgia in his eyes, yes often tears. Music was his meat and thank God, the illness that bound him for years is gone. The steal band is cut and he is free to begin where he left off. Now there can be audiences, his tenor voice will shout praises of joy. His mother will be there to applaud and prod him on. His father will be there and his brother Roland will sing duets with him. The reunion will be glorious. Bert was a product of San Juan. He knew the vigor of its work - he knew the biting defeat of hail and fire; he felt the flow of a promising field of wheat. He knew the lean depression years. For two years Bert had walked with difficultly due to a blood clot operation. He clung tenaciously to life and gained courage by reading great books. Always an avid reader, books fed his spirit against pain and defeat. Few have clung to life against such odds as Bert Adams. He is survived by brothers, Vaughan Adams, Riverside, Wyoming; Donald T. Adams, of Salt Lake City, Utah; Leon Adams, Monticello, Utah; and by sisters Zola Peterson, Mesa, Arizona; Fay McCormick, Long Beach, California; Cornelia Perkins, Hazel Loomis and Della Bronson of Monticello, Utah. Also surviving are twenty-two nieces and nephews and fifty-one grand nieces and nephews.