Nola "Sandy" Dale Adams

MADISON - I, Nola “Sandy” Lyons-Gardner-Adams, died on October 9, 2024. I was born on September 23, 1942, in Denison, Texas to Bennie Lou (Lane) and Maurice Dale Lyons. In 1943, Dale enlisted in the Navy and was in the South Pacific. Bennie Lou left town, leaving me behind. I was taken to Dales’ sister and brother-in-law, Vesta Rae (Lyons) and Herald Purdy who were appointed as guardians until World War II ended. In 1946, the Purdy family relocated to Madison, Wis., where Herald had been stationed at Truax Field. Dale stayed in the Navy and the Purdy guardianship continued. When I was nine years old, Randall School found I was registered under the name Sandy Purdy, but legally I was Nola Lyons. This was how I found out I was not the Purdy’s daughter and became a “Lyons” instead of a “Purdy”.

I graduated from West High School in 1960 and then attended UW-Whitewater. My working career began in 1964 at Wisconsin Bell Telephone Company (AT&T) in Madison. Through the next 21 years, I worked in various Wisconsin cities. In 1985, I moved to the Bay Area in California and in 1990 began my 15-year career with Waste Management of Alameda County. Both careers centered around community relations as well as education of business/residential customers and company staff.

In 1988 at the age of 45, I began a new way of life. Over the next 35 plus years I continued my new life direction as a member in the fellowship of Alcoholics Anonymous. This second stage of my life was purposeful and rewarding. I met each of my two husbands in the fellowship. In 1992 I married Peter Gardner of Edinburgh, Scotland. I was widowed in 2001. In 2005, I retired and ended up back in Wisconsin and became a member of the East Side Alano Club, a venue for 12 Step Recovery meetings. I married Larry Adams in 2010 and was widowed again in 2018.

I am survived by my brothers of the heart, Phillip Purdy and Mark Olejniczak; my dear, steadfast friend of over 65 years, Barbara Jallings Albrecht; my “Posse” of volunteer helpers from my fellowship at the East Side Alano Club; cousins throughout the USA; and my four cats.

I want to assure those who know me that I do not fear death. I welcome it as one who has had long and satisfying days of work behind her and accepts her rest with gratitude.

A memorial gathering will be held at the EAST SIDE ALANO CLUB, 1017 Northport Dr., Madison, at 1:00 pm on Saturday, October 19, 2024. Burial will be held at Highland Memory Gardens.

Contributions in memory of Sandy Adams may be made to the East Side Alano Club. Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.

Gunderson East
Funeral & Cremation Care
5203 Monona Drive
(608) 221-5420