Linda Hunter Adams, age 75, passed away on Sunday, July 17, in her beloved family cabin in the beautiful mountains near Brighton, Utah.
An exceptionally intelligent and unfailingly kind woman, Linda's playful humor, generosity, openness, and genuine love of others drew people to her. Countless family, friends, and colleagues loved her dearly and will miss her keenly.
Linda was born in Logan, Utah, on March 13, 1941. When she was 4 years old, her father, Milton R. Hunter, was called to be a President of the First Quorum of the Seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the family moved to Salt Lake City. Linda had a joyful childhood on the Avenues. She was very close to her father and her mother, Ferne Gardner Hunter, throughout their lives.
She graduated from West High School in 1959 and received her BA from Brigham Young University, where she was awarded outstanding graduating senior woman. She also received her MA from BYU.
Linda married Charles P. Adams in the Salt Lake Temple on April 2, 1969. They had a daughter, Jennifer, and a son, Nathaniel.
An associate professor at BYU for 30 years, Linda taught English and editing, and influenced thousands of students. She was director of the Humanities Publications Center, where she produced hundreds of books and journals. She was associate editor of BYU Studies for 15 years. She managed student journals, including Inscape and The Leading Edge, and helped organize conferences, including Life, the Universe, and Everything. She was an editor for Pioneer Magazine and also spent a number of years working on the Joseph Smith Papers.
Linda taught her students to be fine editors, helped them start their careers in numerous different fields, and introduced them to future spouses. Most importantly, she taught them by example to live Christlike lives.
Linda immersed herself fully and joyfully in her work. She fondly remembered her trip to Guatemala for linguistics research when she was an undergraduate. She also loved her trips for the McGraw-Hill publishing conference, the Stanford University publishing conference, the Rocky Mountain Medieval and Renaissance Association conferences, and presenting a paper to the Tyndale Society at Oxford University.
She served faithfully in her church throughout her life. Linda taught Gospel Doctrine for more than a decade. She was especially proud of the Education Weekend she organized for her stake for a number of years, bringing in distinguished speakers and musicians.
Linda had a gift for connecting people to each other and making them feel valued. She loved her time in Authors Club, Writers at Work, Pilgrimage, and her numerous books clubs and study groups.
She is survived by Charles P. Adams, Jennifer Adams (Bill Dunford), and Nathaniel Adams. Also survived by her sisters Margaret Gritton (the late Vance Gritton), Lois Anne McGill (Patrick McGill), Alison Koritz (Charles Koritz), her brother Michael Hunter, her step-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her parents and her brother Reed Hunter (Mary Anne Hunter). Dr. Saundra Buys at the Huntsman Cancer Institute brought her many years of healing and friendship.
Linda's funeral will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, July 23, at the Winder Third Ward, 4551 South 1200 East, Salt Lake City. A viewing will be held there that morning from 9:45 to 10:45 a.m. A second viewing will be held Friday evening, July 22, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Larkin Mortuary, 260 East South Temple. The family thanks everyone for their kindness and expressions of love throughout Linda's final illness.
