Sandra Adams

Sandra Lee (Bulkley) Adams
August 8, 1942 – June 23, 2015
Sandra Lee (Bulkley) Adams died June 23, 2015 from multiple complications associated with diabetes and heart failure.
Sandra was born on August 8, 1942 to Robert Vernon Bulkley and Ruth Afton (Child) Bulkley. She is the oldest of eleven children. Robert Dennis Bulkley (Olive), Judy Miller (Edwin), Paul Bulkley, Cheryl Higdon (John), Terry Bulkley (Khris), Ruthann Bowen, Lori Bulkley, Nancy Ross (Max), David Bulkley (Wendy), Kenneth Bulkley (Deann).
My children are Scott Bulkley Christensen (Cynthia), Patricia Owen Keser (Paul), Roger Lee
Christensen (Deborah), Don Eugene Christensen-Deceased (Kristi), Anna Marie Brown, Shawna
Rashell Laws, Paula Jo Norman (Mike). I have 20 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.
I’m was preceded in death by my parents, my son Don Christensen, and my brothers Robert
Dennis Bulkley and Paul Bulkley.
I was born with sandy colored hair, thus the name Sandra. About a year after I was born my
father purchased about one and a quarter acres of land from his father-in-law for $150.00 dollars. His in-laws helped show him how to build a home on the property and the family began its humble beginnings in a small white frame house on the back part of the property.
On July 12th, 1943 greetings from the President of the United States arrived at our home. My Dad was being drafted into the Army Infantry. He would serve in the Southern Philippines, the Ryukus Islands, Leyte, Guam, and Okinawa. My father would be wounded three times and by the grace of God returned home to us. He was Honorably discharged in September 1945.
My mother would teach us kids many skills that we would use the rest of our lives. On the family property we had a large garden and learned to plant and grow lots of food. Mother showed us
how to preserve the bounty of the garden. Mother showed us how to sew most of our clothes. In
the day, flour came in large cloth bags. Those bags were used to make shirts and skirts for us kids. Mother was a great cook. She had to be with so many children. She passed on the skills to feed a small army good healthy meals. As mom’s helper I learned the skills well and it would serve me later in life as my career. I became a Cook/Chef. Cooking as a fall-back career would be hard but would help me provide for my family and help my husband with our finances.
Growing up as a child, I was very shy. Which was funny because I loved to sing and dance. Aunt Darlene taught me how to dance and I participated in small performances. It seemed to be a tradition at family reunions to have family show off their talents.
October 26th, 1962, I married Don Owen Christensen. We had our marriage later solemnized in the Manti Temple on January 22 1963. Sadly our marriage would end June 22, 1987. Later I would meet Albert Woods and marry him in Elko Nevada. This marriage lasted only about a year. May 15, 1992 I would marry Forrest Adams, someone my son Don introduced me to. This marriage would only last 8 years. I remained single the rest of my life.
While married to my first husband, with my own children I would write and produce many “Roadshows”. The whole family would sometimes be involved in its production. When it was my turn to put together Bulkley Family reunions, I would try to create fun and exciting times that the family would remember. I always felt we had a talented family.
My parents were involved in Scouting and earned several of Scouting’s top awards including the Silver Beaver. When my boys were young I was able to assist in the Scouting program. They got to walk in parades in their uniforms. My boys would earn many Scouting awards and ranks. They worked hard in Scouting and provided the community with lots of great service.
I understand they are still friends and communicate with their scoutmaster Steve Stream. My oldest son would become a District Commissioner for the Great Salt Lake Council. They also passed on their love for scouting to their kids.
Hunting and fishing. That became a yearly event for my family. Fishing wasn’t year around like it is today. There was an actual opening day for fishing. As a child and even as a parent we would gather as one large family and we would meet at various lakes and reservoirs on opening day and fish and camp out together. I was lucky enough to begin having kids while my own mother was still having kids. Two of my youngest brothers were born within months of me having two children. They would run and play more like siblings than uncles and nephews. In fact, my youngest sibling Kenneth was born 24 years to the day on my birthday, great birthday gift from my mom. I was 5 months pregnant myself with my third child.
One of the highlights of my life was to serve a couple of missions. I was called to serve in the Salt Lake Temple with my third husband Forrest Adams. I was called, in my Ward, to serve a mission in the Stake genealogy department. While there I got to help the deaf speaking sisters and share in the mission experience.
Life wasn’t always a bed of roses. I was married three times and divorced three times. Though I’m very grateful for the good times and many great family experiences we shared. I also have seven wonderful children whom I love more than life. I was proud of them and relished in telling my friends and co-workers about them and their accomplishments.
As a grandmother I was called upon to care for some of my grandchildren. I loved all my precious grand kids and would do anything for them.
In my later years my health declined. I had diabetes and it began to rob me of my vision and prematurely wear out my body. My health would continue to decline and finally I wasn’t able to do many things on my own. The last thing I wanted to do was be a burden on my family. It was hard for a stubborn, independent person like myself to give up my freedom. In 2008, My oldest son would need to put me in an assisted living facility.
Fifteen years earlier some of my greatest losses would begin, starting with my father passing away. We had lost family members before and each one is very sad. Like most of my family we wore our feelings on our sleeve and could cry at the drop of a hat. Thank heavens for the Gospel of Jesus Christ which teaches me those losses are only temporary. I knew I would see them again.
In 1993, I lost my father.
In 2007, I lost my brother-in-law, John
In 2008, I lost my mother.
In 2009, I lost my brother-in-law, Ed
In 20I 0, I lost my brother, Paul.
In 2012, I lost my son, Don.
In 2013, I lost one of my nephews.
In 2014, I lost my brother, Dennis.
In 2015, I gained them and more back.
I’m now at peace. I have fought the good fight and vanquished all my foes. My children are my legacy and hopefully I have taught them well enough to care for themselves and serve their brothers and sisters. Please be kind to each other and only remember the good times. That is all I chose to remember.
To my many family members, I know that God lives. That Jesus is my older Brother and Savior. His Gospel is here on the earth. He has a Prophet that speaks to us and tells us what we need to know to return and live with him. I believe it to be the truth with all my being. I leave that with you in Jesus’ name. Amen
We would like to thank the sweet people at Apple Village Assisted Living, Hospice, and Specialty Nursing for their loving care and support.
Funeral services for Sandra will be held Monday, June 29th, 2015 at 11:00am at Mountain View Memorial, 3115 East Bengal Blvd (7800 South) Cottonwood Heights. A viewing will be held Sunday evening, June 28th, from 6:00-8:00pm at Mountain View and 1hour prior to the services on Monday at 10:00am. To see full obituary and to send condolences to the family please visit www.mountainviewmortuary.com
To watch a photo DVD Tribute of Sandra please click on the link below.
https://www.tributeslides.com/tributes/show/L8K33QDKNBQ9WMBN