Durwood M. ADAMS

Durwood M. ADAMS, 84, of Mills, PA, died Monday, July 10, 2023 in Sweden Valley Manor, Coudersport.  Born July 25, 1938, in Harrison Valley, he was the fourth child of Lawrence and Dorothy Abbott Adams.  On October 30, 1971, in Manchester, NH, he married the former Marie Ann Jeannette Cote, who predeceased him on October 1, 2011.  

We begin to remember not just that you died, but you lived and gave us memories too beautiful to forget.  We mourn the loss and celebrate the life of a great man, son, brother, husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, great-great-grandfather, Marine, and friend. As a young man of 18, he joined the U.S. Marine Corps, serving proudly and honorably from 1956 – 1976, retiring as a Gunnery Sergeant.  He served three tours in Vietnam and one tour in Okinawa.  Durwood earned several awards which were prideworthy to his family, but to him it was “I had a job to do and I did my job.”  He was not a fan of fanfare.  After retiring from the military, he was employed by the Forestry Department for a year and Potter Distributors for four and a half years before settling in at Pure Carbon for 19 years.  He enjoyed hunting, fishing, scratch off tickets, vanilla candles, watching baseball and football games on tv, going out to breakfast, and ribbing employees, family, and friends with his quick wit and loving sass.  He loved taking his convertible Camaro out for drives on nice days.  It was often joked that it was the cleanest car on the streets because it never saw rain or foul weather.  He never shied away from helping others, whether it was a kind word, listening ear, a mowed lawn, or taking Amish to the store.  His open-door policy was exemplified by his words “you are always welcome, come on by.”  Woody was a member of Carl E. Hyde American Legion Post #963 in Ulysses. 

Surviving are:  six children, Kemberly (David), Robert,  Joann, Louise (Alfred), James, and Shannon;  15 grandchildren, Dyana (Dan), Cristine (David), Raymond, Marc (Kelly), Leslie, Jesse, Steven, Elenor, JaeAlyn (Christina), KelliAnn (Alan), Dawna, James, CJ, Nicholas, Justin, and Racheal;  13 great-grandchildren, Teri (Christopher), Kristen (Dana), Ashley, Aiden, Kennadi, Mason, Alexandra, Brian, Alan, Evangeline, Georgianna, Cambridge, and Kathleen;  two great-great-granddaughters, Emily and Ava;  many friends, including special honors to Jolene;  many good friends from the Amish community;  nieces and nephews.  In addition to his adored wife, he was predeceased by three siblings, Barbara Erhard, Bruce L. Adams, and Gretchen Doty.

Friends may call Sunday, July 16, 2023 from 6:00 – 8:00 PM at Olney-Foust Funeral Homes & Crematory, Ulysses, PA, where Funeral Services will be held on Monday at 11:00 AM.  Rev. Timothy H. Miller will officiate.  Burial will be in Riverview Cemetery, Potter Brook, PA, where Military Rites will be accorded by members of the Potter County Honor Guard and active-duty personnel from the U.S. Marine Corps.  

Memorials may be made to Wounded Warrior Project at www.woundedwarriorproject.org or any Veteran service organization.  

Online condolences may be expressed at www.olneyfoust.com.