BYRON — Derek Christian Adams, 47, is now resting in peace with the angels, his grandparents, relatives, friends and pets who have gone before. He was born Jan. 29, 1970, in Lewiston, and was the son of Herbert and Dorothy Adams, growing up in Hanover, along with his sister, Erin Elizabeth.

He attended schools in Rumford and graduated from Rumford High School in 1989. He also participated in the ski industry program at UMF.

From early childhood through his adult years he loved the family camp at Howard Pond, along with swimming, fishing, sailing, water-skiing, hiking, biking, rock-hunting and being with his friends. Derek enjoyed being creative and building things. He and a neighbor friend once created a raft with a tent on top to paddle around on a flooded lawn.

Derek was active in skiing, Boy Scouts and school sports. He put on his first pair of skis at age 2, followed by Bill Koch league with the Pineland Ski Club in Andover and then with Rumford schools and Chisholm Ski Club/Black Mountain in Rumford. He skied Nordic and Alpine, but excelled in X-country and earned a spot on the Maine State Nordic team. During high school, he worked at Sunday River Ski Resort to earn his ski pass. After high school, he assisted in coaching the Mountain Valley ski teams.

Derek also had some very interesting experiences during his growing years. He worked his way from Cub Scouts through Boy Scouts, including a summer trip to the National Boy Scout Jamboree at Fort A.P. Hill in Virginia, and on to become an Eagle Scout with a project of building two warming huts for the Chisholm Ski Club X-country race volunteers at Black Mountain. His summer work experiences included relocating peregrine falcons with the State Fish and Wildlife Program and working as a painter and handyman. His first Thanksgiving away from family was spent X-country skiing in Labrador with Dick Taylor and a group of skiers from the Bethel area in 1988.

In 1992, he traveled west to California with some friends and landed in South Lake Tahoe where he worked at Harvey’s Casino in Stateline, Nev., and skied, hiked and fished that beautiful area for several years. While at Harvey’s, he created an improved work station which was built and used. Then he lived and worked (including driving a zamboni at Hobomock Ice Arena) in Pembroke, Mass., for a few years before moving back home to Maine and Hanover, then to Byron.

Derek loved his family and friends and working and playing outside in nature. His soul was gentle and kind; he disliked arguments and fighting. He saw good in every person he met and was a friend to many. From a very young age, he could carry on a conversation with anyone, ranging from toddlers to the elderly, and could give them the feeling he really cared for them. It never mattered what skin color, religion or if a person was rich or poor.

Derek is survived by his parents; sister, Erin and husband, Daryl Gurney; nephew, Samuel Gurney and niece, Elizabeth Gurney of Raymond; as well as several aunts, uncles and cousins; Ellen Woodworth of Lubec; and many, many friends.

Missing since Dec. 29, 2016, portions of Derek’s remains were discovered just four days before a family-planned remembrance service for him on Oct. 14, 2017. His family and friends are most thankful for the alert hunter who made the discovery, which provided his family with some closure.

Derek Christian Adams

Derek Christian Adams