Obituary of Elsie Grace Adams

Longtime Petoskey, Michigan resident, Elsie Adams, passed away on Tuesday, January 2, 2024, in Danbury, Connecticut. 

Elsie was born in Bay Shore, Michigan on September 3, 1944, daughter of the late Frank Burnett and the late Dorothy (Jacobs) Bandy. She grew up on the family farm in Bay Shore and was a graduate of Petoskey High School, Class of 1962. 

In 1964, she met the love of her life, Chet Adams, and the two were married on June 12, 1965.  For more than a decade, Elsie traveled the country with Chet while he worked as a journeyman electrician in the IBEW. During this period, the happy couple purchased land on Crooked Lake in Petoskey, and together they built their dream home where they lived for more than 20 years. 

Elsie was a longtime Emmet County, Michigan employee, rising to the role of Chief Deputy Clerk for the Circuit Court before her retirement. Soon after retiring, her and Chet moved to Maui, Hawaii.  While on Maui, Elsie earned her real estate license and was a realtor there for many years before they returned to Petoskey. In 2020, soon after Chet’s passing, Elsie moved to Connecticut to be closer to family.

Elsie loved the water, and her fondest memories were of living on Crooked Lake, boating and fishing with Chet, friends, and family - and in later years having morning coffee on the beach in Maui with Chet.  She also enjoyed dancing, hosting friends, travel and country music. 

In addition to her friends in and around Petoskey, Elsie will be especially missed by her niece Cheryl (Kyle) Oberndorfer, her grandnephews BJ & Devin Oberndorfer and her grandniece Karlee Oberndorfer.  She will also be missed by her cousins Brian David, Brenda David (Krista Fowler) and her faithful K-9 companion Marco, as well as her nephew Todd (Sandra) Groner-Kopriva.  She was preceded in death by her husband Chet, her parents, and by her sister Lee. 

Elsie’s family plans to remember her privately.  Those wishing to honor her memory with a charitable contribution may wish to consider the Shriner’s Hospital for Children, (www.shrinershospitalsforchildren.org) or the ASPCA (www.aspca.org)