HOMETOWN HEROES: Gordon and Kitty Adams
Published 8:00 am Saturday, May 25, 2002
Not everyone has the courage to look directly at their lives, challenging themselves to determine if they are living the life truly right for them, or if it is someone else’s American dream.
Gordon and Kitty Adams have done that, deliberately asking themselves: Does our life match up with our values and ethics? Are our spirits alive and growing?
After graduating from college the two volunteered in the Peace Corps, teaching in Botswana. They then returned to the affluent suburbs of Chicago, to raise a family. “Gordy,” as he’s known, landed a corporate position, and they bought a home in the “right” neighborhood. They began climbing what they thought was the ladder of success.
Five years later, however, they took stock of their life.
Said Kitty, “We both wanted to have an active part in raising our children — to teach them where food comes from, to care for all kinds of animals, and to appreciate all of God’s creation.”
The Adamses envisioned a small, close community, with conscientious people who valued families, natural beauty and the world they shared.
They made one of the hardest intentional decisions of their lives: to leave their family and friends and lifestyle. In 1975, they sold their home, gave away all their possessions, purchased a Volkswagen camper and set out to fulfill their personal American dream.
“Four months later we found our haven, a rundown 1922 bungalow situated on a five-acre field in Clinton,” Kitty said.
Gordy remembers an older friend coming out to visit them.
“He went home and told everyone back in Chicago, ‘The only thing that works on their farm is Gordy.'”
Things changed when neighbors Myrna and Sean Twomey taught the Adams family farming skills, and gave them the fellowship and encouragement they needed.
As their spirits renewed, they knew they had found the right lifestyle to raise their three children.
“Gordy and Kitty live a purposeful life both as parents and politically and socially,” said Dee Shirley, mentor coordinator at Langley Middle School and a good friend. “Kitty’s hands are never idle, whether she’s canning or knitting beautiful little socks from the wool she has carded, dyed and spun herself.”
Shirley says one of the ways Gordy shows his love and energy is at sing-a-longs around a campfire, getting everyone joining in and feeling connected.
Gordy says he strives to have his actions based on the spirit of love.
“One of the most inspiring teachings for me comes from the writings of Paul’s letter in Corinthians 1, ch.13 — If I have faith, give away all my possessions, or speak in tongues of angels, but have not love, I’m just a noisy gong. So simple yet so difficult to practice fully. I’m often that noisy gong Paul talks about.”
The way the Adamses value families and community traditions is something their friend Dave Anderson appreciates. A few months after arriving on the island, Gordy initiated the annual Thanksgiving Turkey Bowl, Anderson wrote. Each year dads and kids meet at Porter Field in Clinton from 8:30 to 11 a.m., giving mothers the morning to themselves and the kids a tradition to count on.
The first year Gordy enlisted Doug McLeod and Bill Kurk. Now, 35 fathers and attend.
The morning begins with sausage, rolls and spiced cider, followed by touch football. It ends with a ritualized passing on of a good sportsmanship trophy, storytelling and giving thanks.
Friend and musician Bill Humphreys spoke of another tradition.
“Our family has had many memorable evenings spent at the Adams home, making music, playing games and reading poems and stories. On Christmas evenings in their barn, with only the warmth and sounds of the animals, we hold little candles in our mittened hands and all together sing old familiar carols.”
And Claudia Walker, another singer and friend, said, “These evenings are the most meaningful family tradition I’ve been a part of. Together in their small barn, sheep beside us, fresh bales of hay, we remember the story of the first Christmas. Simple and unforgettable.”
The Adamses feel passionate about everything they do, and live their lives accordingly, said Dick and Cynthia Tilkin.
“They have raised three outstanding children,” the Tilkins added.
Kitty says she learned about strong supportive families and traditions from her parents.
“My mother showed me in her actions, and told me, ‘The most important work you’ll ever do is that of mothering,'” Kitty said.
The Adams’ daughter Jenny Gochanour, now a teacher at South Whidbey High School, writes that her parents have been “incredible” role models.
“We canned, baked breads, gardened together, and cared for our farm animals. I learned from them that I have a responsibility to my family, my community, the environment and the world. Parenting and now grandparenting has always been their priority. Every child deserves the kind of love and support that my brothers and I got. They live their life deliberately; quality of life is more important than material wealth.”
According to Kitty and Gordy Adams, that deliberate living was inspired by Thoreau, who wrote, “I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived.”
