Hillary Adams Bushman

One of our Heavenly Father’s most valiant and beautiful fighters for all things good, Hillary Adams Bushman, peacefully returned home to her Father in Heaven on April 3, 2022 at age 38. Hillary carried the heavy burden of breast cancer, and later metastatic cancer, for 8 long years of her young life with unshakable faith and optimism. While cancer can inflict a lot of things, it was completely powerless to dim her light or slow down her spirit. In the midst of her own trenches of hardship, Hillary steadily found ways to make others laugh, serve, and lift where she stood on a daily basis.

Hillary was born in Bountiful, Utah, on February 18, 1984 to Mark and Sharon Adams and spent her youth living in Farmington, Utah. Her childhood summers were filled with backyard adventures, farm chores, 4H shows and pack trips into the High Uintahs on horseback with her parents and siblings. Her winters were spent skiing at Alta with family and friends who felt like family. She graduated from Viewmont High School and received her bachelor’s degree in health promotions from Weber State University.

Hillary married the love of her life, Jake Bushman, on March 9, 2005, in the Bountiful Utah Temple. Their love story is truly one for the ages. One summer night, twelve-year old Hillary met up with a group of neighborhood kids, including Jake, to play night games. When Jake walked in the door of his home that night, his dirty appearance surprised his parents. When asked what happened, he responded, “Hillary Adams put me in a headlock and stuffed grass in my mouth because I called her Hill-bill-ary.” From that night on, Hillary and Jake began a deep bond of friendship that carried them both through the thick and thin of adolescence and into adulthood. It was only natural that their friendship became a courtship as adults and a deep love that would last the eternities.

Hillary was born to be a mother of boys and she was blessed with two of them, Lane and Heber. Whether she was hunting, fishing, camping, shooting bows, or elbow-deep in the cowboy life, her entire world truly revolved around her husband Jake and their boys. Hillary was a cowgirl. She loved a good pair of boots, rodeos, all things western, and turquoise. She was also a true horsewoman with a magical connection to her horses.

Hillary is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and she threw her heart and soul into every calling she was asked to serve in. The highlight of her service in the church was in Young Women’s, where she served in various callings including Stake Young Women’s President. Hillary loved those girls, as well as the women with whom she served, and cherished the opportunities she had to help strengthen their testimonies as they strengthened her own. Hillary found a lot of peace and direction in the temple and brought everyone who was able to go with her there often. Regardless of how dire the diagnosis was for her, no matter her level of pain or sorrow in facing the inevitable, Hillary never wavered in her knowledge that families can be together forever. She bound herself to the Lord through her covenants and the knowledge that she was sealed to her husband, boys, and family, and she never looked back. Throughout Hillary and Jake’s health journeys there has been a lot to be anxious and sad about, but she never let it get to her. She remembered how loved she was by her Heavenly Father and she centered all things through her faith, focusing on the fact that there will be beauty for ashes.

She wouldn’t want us to be sad. She would want us to go order a “fancy frou-frou drink” next time we’re in a restaurant or take a minute when we’re outside to admire every little creation that denotes there is a God. She would tell you to think of something you’re grateful for and write it down and then to worry about nothing and pray about everything. She would remind us that this life is the temporary part, that we’ll all be reunited together soon, and she’d probably say something hilarious that would make you laugh through tears and think “gosh, I love her.”

Hillary, Jake and family would like to thank the incredible staff at the Huntsman Cancer Institute and Hospital for the truly phenomenal attention and care they have given to Hillary and Jake. We would specifically like to thank Dr. Saundra Buys and her angelic team: Chanteel Ballard, Ann Brinkerhoff, Lisa Gauchay, and Angi Larsen, who also is Hillary’s cousin. Angi has fearlessly stood by Hillary and anchored her through the highs and lows of her cancer journey.

Hillary is off to an awesome place, and the family who will miss her terribly and excitedly await our reunion with her is: her husband Jake Bushman, sons Lane and Heber Bushman, parents, Mark and Sharon Adams, sisters Angela (Brandon) Jones, Jody (Jeff) Wright, brother Henry (Cassidy) Adams, in-laws Martin and Julie Bushman, brothers-in-law, Austin (Libby) Bushman, Garrett (Annie) Bushman, Hunter Bushman, numerous nephews and nieces who absolutely adored her and called her their favorite Aunt, and countless incredible friends who loved her.

There will not be a viewing. We would love for you to send your condolences, photos, stories, and memories to memoriesofhillarybushman@gmail.com. We will be consolidating them into a book for her husband and sons to read again and again. Her funeral will be held at the Coalville 2nd Ward Chapel, located at 40 North Main Street, Coalville, Utah, Saturday, April 9th 2022 at 10:30 a.m. Interment will follow at the Coalville City Cemetery.

For those who would like to view the recorded services, you may do so by clicking the "Watch Services" button at the top of Hillary's obituary.