Elizabeth "Beth" Adams

Elizabeth Ann “Beth” Adams died peacefully in her sleep Sunday, September 27, 2020, at The Willows, where she was in respite care. She was born July 2, 1945, the eldest child of Ed and Virginia (DeButts) Adams, in Marshalltown, Iowa, where she lived most of her life. She was educated in the Marshalltown Public Schools, attended the University of Iowa for a semester, and later returned to Marshalltown Community College to complete her A.A. degree. She met Gary T. Zmolek, and they were married July 12th, 1974. After spending some time taking care of their daughters Ananda and Shevaun, she worked at her parents' business, Central Abstract Company, for 9 years. She became the Fiscal Manager for Domestic  Violence Alternatives-Sexual Assault Center, a position-- both passion and employment--  she held until 1993. Beginning in 1995, she struggled through years of challenges to her health. A passion for the arts, especially for singing; a deep love of animals, especially horses, but also cats, dogs, birds, primates, and other vertebrates (no fondness for slugs, spiders, and most insects); and support for those denied full access to the privileges of society, whether women, victims of abuse, or people of color-- these defined much of her life, along with an up-front advocacy of free speech. (Ask her nephew Jason for an early example of this.) While she could present a fierce verbal onslaught for positions she favored, her tender heart always led her to help those in need whom she came across, and she expanded her family to include many for whom she felt a deep love. She delighted in language and learning and encouraged everyone she spent time with to pursue their own paths of development. She enjoyed volunteering with The Rock and Read Program reading to elementary children and sometimes she brought her sun conure, Lily with her to the schools.  Discouraged by her father from joining an Elvis Presley club, she started a fan club for Marshalltown's world-famous actress, Jean Seberg. Among her proudest accomplishments was the founding of a women's consciousness-raising group, known as the Women’s Rap Group, the first of its kind in Marshalltown. She had a beautiful soprano voice, sang in choirs from childhood, and later as a soloist at The First Congregational Church.  A childhood of singing with her brothers and sister was cultivated by their mother into the Adams Family Singers, who performed their four-part music to the delight of local audiences. She loved to get people, whenever they were gathered, to start singing in harmony. She also loved playing jokes on her loved ones and making those around her laugh. These traits played out in abundance when she was in her favorite place on earth, Long Lake near Longville, Minnesota, her “soul’s home,” where each year since 1981 her family has gathered to renew bonds with hours of singing, laughing, sharing stories, and playing in, on, and alongside its healing waters, and cooking and eating tons of food made with loving hearts and hands. Left to cherish her memory is her loving husband, Gary Zmolek; Her children: Jerry Hitchcock, Ananda Adams-Zmolek and Shevaun (Jared Banes) Adams-Zmolek; her grandchildren: Shane, Sean and Amber Hitchcock and Olivia Adams-Zmolek; her siblings:  Tom (Jane) Adams, Mark (Amy) Adams-Westin, Mary (John Hiett) Adams; and nieces and nephews: Mary Jane Adams, Jason Nicholson, Megan Balong, Britta Adams and Sean Adams-Hiett.   Beth is preceded in death by her parents, Ed and Virginia and several aunts and uncles. A celebration of the life of Beth Adams will begin with a visitation at 2:00 PM, Saturday, October 10, 2020, at Mitchell Family Funeral Home, Iowa Avenue West, Marshalltown, Iowa, followed by a memorial service at 4:00 PM. We invite those with memories to share to do so at this time. Visiting may continue until 6:00. Following Beth’s wishes, her remains have been cremated, and there will be no interment ceremony. All attendees are strongly encouraged to wear masks and observe social distancing to protect the living who will be there to honor her, among whom many, including her widower, Gary Zmolek, are in high-risk categories for Covid-19. The family will provide masks if you forget to bring one. Wearing a happy shade of blue is welcomed and encouraged by the family as that was her favorite color.  For those who would like to witness the ceremony but cannot or choose not to be present for their own health and safety, Mitchell Family Funeral Home will livestream the service at https://www.facebook.com/Mitchell-Family-Funeral-Home-99280714047/ . In lieu of flowers, Beth would have loved contributions in her honor to the following: Rape, Abuse, & Incest National Hotline (RAINN) https://wwww.rainn.org She would also ask that you exercise your rights and do your duty as citizens and vote. For all that remains, Beth would urge us to trust these words: “The Most High will provide.”