John Adams

John Adams (Scotty) passed away Sunday, January 3, 2021 after almost 101 well-lived years. John was one of nine children born to James and Agnes (nee Gourlay) Adams on February 19, 1920 in Greenock, Scotland.

John was married to Mercedes (nee Matas) Adams for 68 years, until her passing in 2012. John and Mercedes met in her hometown of Algiers, during the WWII landings in French Algeria. During WWII John was awarded the silver Royal Humane Society Medal and Parchment by H.R.H. the Duke of Gloucester, for diving into the water and swimming out to save the life of a young woman who was drowning in the Mersey River, Liverpool, England after falling overboard from a ship during the blackout. John served six years active duty on various minesweepers from 1939-1945 while in the British Royal Navy. One of the minesweepers, the Relonzo, was sunk with all hands lost, except for John, who was on shore receiving a “red ink” commendation at the time the ship sank with all his kit on board.

After the war, John and his wife and daughter lived in Scotland, Canada, Algeria, California, New York, and finally, North Carolina. John worked in New York as a journeyman electrician and was a member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers out of White Plains, NY.

After his wife’s death in 2012, John lived with his daughter, Paulette and her husband Jerry Jaeger until his passing. John is also survived by his grandson John Hoeg (Carol), great-grandsons Jack and Daniel Hoeg.

John was predeceased by his son-in-law Anthony Hoeg, grandson James Hoeg (KeAnne), and brothers Robert, James, David, and sisters, May( Monroe), Helen (McQuillian), Nan (Caulfield), and Margaret (Anderson). One sister, Elizabeth (Revill), still lives in Gourock, Scotland, along with numerous nephews and nieces.

The family wishes to express its gratitude to John’s many friends at Ashworth Drugs, the Cary Library, Dorcas Ministries, and the NC Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped for their kindness and assistance to John over the years. You were important in his life.