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In Memoriam - Dr. Jean Marie Carlson Adams
May 31, 1941 - November 24, 2021
May 31, 1941 - November 24, 2021
Dr. Jean Marie Carlson Adams passed away on November 24th, 2021 at the age of 80 at Hospice Alliance in Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin. Born May 31st, 1941 to George and Nell (Martin) Furniss in Oakland California, her earliest memories were of her mother reading bedtime stories to her and older brother by candlelight during the blackouts of World War II.
Attending public schools in Oakland, she would be senior class president and, despite her male guidance councilor’s suggestion that she become a stewardess, Jean would earn a Bachelor of Child Psychology from Oregon State University in Corvallis where she first found the Unitarian Universalist faith.
After graduation, Jean moved to Detroit on a prestigious scholarship from the Merrill Palmer Institute (now part of Wayne State University) where she worked with disadvantaged teenage girls while pursuing her master’s degree.
While in school, she embraced the new-found freedom of a single woman in the 1960s - engaging in the civil rights and women’s rights movements and was honored to have heard both Dr. Martin Luther King and Malcom X speak in Detroit. On weekends she would fly to New York where she would frequent underground clubs and studios, including that of renown modern artist Alvin Loving.
After receiving her degree, she moved to Ann Arbor, Michigan where she worked for the juvenile court and discovered a love of folk music, once famously hearing Joni Mitchell in a tiny club with a handful of guests. She would enroll in a doctoral program at the University of Michigan and eventually meet and marry fellow graduate student David Carlson in 1971, the same year she would defend her dissertation the first time. She would continue to work at the juvenile court until the all-male doctoral panel would approve her dissertation on sexist language and societal attitudes in its original form three years later.
Her son Erik David Carlson would be born in 1978 while she and David were living in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. After a move to the Boston area in 1980, Jean worked in the counseling department at the University of Massachusetts, Lowell where she enjoyed her colleagues and working with underclassmen. Jean and her family would join the First Parish of Concord UU Church where she served as chair of the Religious Education committee with the Rev. Dr. Dana McLean Greeley and the future Rev. Lucinda Duncan whom she encouraged to go to seminary.
Moving back to Bloomfield Hills, Michigan in 1985, Jean would become involved in both the Birmingham Unitarian Church and the Cranbrook Educational Community where son Erik would attend. Eventually she found one of her most rewarding jobs as a staff psychologist for the homeless shelter systems of Oakland and Macomb Counties. A lover of animals, her beloved chocolate Labrador would often accompany her to her sessions with shelter residents and was later contacted by multiple folks who credited her with saving their lives through her work.
After a painful divorce, Jean found love again in retired history teacher Larry Adams, whom she married at the UU Church of Grand Traverse in Traverse City, Michigan in 2003, with longtime friend Rev. Lucinda Duncan officiating. Her time in Traverse City was a highlight of her life where she regularly hosted Larry’s family and volunteered as a therapist at a local hospice provider. She and Larry would buy a winter home in Leesburg, Florida, which eventually became their permanent residence in 2011.
During her time in Florida, Jean discovered a love of community theatre and directed or co-directed many performances, winning several awards for her efforts. She also served in leadership for the Interfaith Council of Lake County, Florida and was an active participant in the UU Congregation of Lake County. Committed to the cause of dignity and justice, she was pained by recent setbacks to democracy such as the January 6th insurrection and the Texas abortion statute and gave generously to the causes and institutions that reflected her values.
She will always be remembered for her sense of humor, her love of travel and depressing folk songs and her incredible ability to connect with people.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her sister-in-law Ruth Furniss and infant granddaughter Rain Carlson. She is survived by husband Larry Adams, brother Rev. Dr. George Furniss (Rev. Sandy Larson), son Rev. Erik (Rev. Kimberlee) Carlson, grandson Miles Carlson, stepdaughters Kacey (John) Carlson, Cathy (Mike) Balzer and Cindy Adams, nieces Dr. Astrid (Dr. Chris) Newell, Kirsten Furniss (David Lanchner) and Dr. Ingrid (Kevin Martin) Furniss, nephew Peter (Maggie) Furniss, step granddaughters Lexi and Mikaela Balzer and Miranda Miller and many grand nieces and nephews.
Memorial services will be broadcast live from Bradford Community Church Unitarian Universalist in Kenosha, Wisconsin at 11:00 AM on January 22nd, 2022 at BradfordUU.org with interment at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, Jean requests memorial donations go to Bradford Community Church Unitarian Universalist – please visit http://BradfordUU.org/giving for more information.
Attending public schools in Oakland, she would be senior class president and, despite her male guidance councilor’s suggestion that she become a stewardess, Jean would earn a Bachelor of Child Psychology from Oregon State University in Corvallis where she first found the Unitarian Universalist faith.
After graduation, Jean moved to Detroit on a prestigious scholarship from the Merrill Palmer Institute (now part of Wayne State University) where she worked with disadvantaged teenage girls while pursuing her master’s degree.
While in school, she embraced the new-found freedom of a single woman in the 1960s - engaging in the civil rights and women’s rights movements and was honored to have heard both Dr. Martin Luther King and Malcom X speak in Detroit. On weekends she would fly to New York where she would frequent underground clubs and studios, including that of renown modern artist Alvin Loving.
After receiving her degree, she moved to Ann Arbor, Michigan where she worked for the juvenile court and discovered a love of folk music, once famously hearing Joni Mitchell in a tiny club with a handful of guests. She would enroll in a doctoral program at the University of Michigan and eventually meet and marry fellow graduate student David Carlson in 1971, the same year she would defend her dissertation the first time. She would continue to work at the juvenile court until the all-male doctoral panel would approve her dissertation on sexist language and societal attitudes in its original form three years later.
Her son Erik David Carlson would be born in 1978 while she and David were living in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. After a move to the Boston area in 1980, Jean worked in the counseling department at the University of Massachusetts, Lowell where she enjoyed her colleagues and working with underclassmen. Jean and her family would join the First Parish of Concord UU Church where she served as chair of the Religious Education committee with the Rev. Dr. Dana McLean Greeley and the future Rev. Lucinda Duncan whom she encouraged to go to seminary.
Moving back to Bloomfield Hills, Michigan in 1985, Jean would become involved in both the Birmingham Unitarian Church and the Cranbrook Educational Community where son Erik would attend. Eventually she found one of her most rewarding jobs as a staff psychologist for the homeless shelter systems of Oakland and Macomb Counties. A lover of animals, her beloved chocolate Labrador would often accompany her to her sessions with shelter residents and was later contacted by multiple folks who credited her with saving their lives through her work.
After a painful divorce, Jean found love again in retired history teacher Larry Adams, whom she married at the UU Church of Grand Traverse in Traverse City, Michigan in 2003, with longtime friend Rev. Lucinda Duncan officiating. Her time in Traverse City was a highlight of her life where she regularly hosted Larry’s family and volunteered as a therapist at a local hospice provider. She and Larry would buy a winter home in Leesburg, Florida, which eventually became their permanent residence in 2011.
During her time in Florida, Jean discovered a love of community theatre and directed or co-directed many performances, winning several awards for her efforts. She also served in leadership for the Interfaith Council of Lake County, Florida and was an active participant in the UU Congregation of Lake County. Committed to the cause of dignity and justice, she was pained by recent setbacks to democracy such as the January 6th insurrection and the Texas abortion statute and gave generously to the causes and institutions that reflected her values.
She will always be remembered for her sense of humor, her love of travel and depressing folk songs and her incredible ability to connect with people.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her sister-in-law Ruth Furniss and infant granddaughter Rain Carlson. She is survived by husband Larry Adams, brother Rev. Dr. George Furniss (Rev. Sandy Larson), son Rev. Erik (Rev. Kimberlee) Carlson, grandson Miles Carlson, stepdaughters Kacey (John) Carlson, Cathy (Mike) Balzer and Cindy Adams, nieces Dr. Astrid (Dr. Chris) Newell, Kirsten Furniss (David Lanchner) and Dr. Ingrid (Kevin Martin) Furniss, nephew Peter (Maggie) Furniss, step granddaughters Lexi and Mikaela Balzer and Miranda Miller and many grand nieces and nephews.
Memorial services will be broadcast live from Bradford Community Church Unitarian Universalist in Kenosha, Wisconsin at 11:00 AM on January 22nd, 2022 at BradfordUU.org with interment at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, Jean requests memorial donations go to Bradford Community Church Unitarian Universalist – please visit http://BradfordUU.org/giving for more information.
