RUSSAN ADAMS obituary

Russan (Samm) Elizabeth Adams left this world on Friday April 16, 2010, in Denver, Colo., while traveling home to Billings, where she had resided for many years. She was 48. Russan was born in Havre to Yvonne Cottrell and Darrell Cady on June 6, 1961, making her the oldest of four siblings. Russan married Roger Adams III on May 3, 1986, in Milford, N.H., and had three children, Roger IV, Nikia and Johnna. In 1994 she found her partner, Brent Sterrett, with whom she shared the remainder of her life. Russan lived her life from coast to coast , l iving i n Montana, New Hampshire, Colorado and California, to name a few. As long as she had sunshine, she was happy. As a stay-athome mom, she enjoyed camping, shopping, lying in the sun, friends and even home-schooling her children for a short while during the elementary years. Russan was a wise woman who was not afraid to tell you how she felt. She was strong, fearless, generous and loving and had endured much during her 48 years. She is survived by Brent Sterrett of Billings; her children, Roger Adams IV of Billings, and Nikia Adams of Billings; her mother, Yvonne Cottrell of Kal s ipel l ; s ibl ings ; Ros e Christianson of Havre, Charles Christianson of Havre and Jennifer Rutherford of Kalispell; her grandmother, Georgia Frigon of Havre; her grandfather, Bim Cottrell of Great Falls; and many aunties, uncles, nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her daughters, Melissa May and Johnna Elizabeth; her uncle, Vern Cottrell; and her father, Darrell Cady. A celebration of her amazing life and the gifts she gave all who encountered her will be held at Smith's Funeral Chapel in Billings, on Friday, April 23, 2010, at 2 p.m., with a reception to follow. Peace, my heart, let the time for the parting be sweet. Let it not be a death but completeness. Let love melt into memory and pain into songs. Let the flight through the sky end in the folding of the wings over the nest. Let the last touch of your hands be gentle like the flower of the night. Stand still, O Beautiful End, for a moment, and say your last words in silence. I bow to you and hold up my lamp to light you on your way. — Rabindranath Tagore