Eldon Scott Adams

Scott Eldon Adams passed away unexpectedly on October 27, 2026, at the age of 69. His sudden passing leaves a tremendous void in the lives of his family and friends.

Scott was a cowboy, a hardworking man, a devoted husband, father, grandfather, brother, and a loyal friend. He was a man who called it like he saw it. He was honest, sometimes gruff, and had a heart much bigger than he let on. Scott showed his love through his actions, by showing up, lending a hand, and being there when it mattered most. If you were lucky enough to earn Scott's friendship, you were lucky enough.

Scott was born on August 16, 1957, in Salt Lake City, Utah to Eldon T Adams and Elaine Butterfield Adams. He was the oldest of four children; he grew up in Murray, Utah and graduated from Murray High School in 1975. Following high school, Scott studied Real Estate and became a licensed Sales Agent. 

On January 29, 1977, Scott married Kristene 'Tena' Hansen, beginning a marriage of nearly 50 years. Together, they built a rewarding life filled with hard work, family, horses, and adventure. They raised three children: Sam, Mollie, and Emily.

Scott was an entrepreneur from an early age. In 1975, he and his father, Eldon, opened The Amber Restaurant in South Salt Lake. With eager determination to succeed, Scott went on to open his own Amber location in Taylorsville in 1985, followed by a third and final location in West Jordan. After 20 successful years in the restaurant business, he traded the kitchen for construction, becoming a General Contractor; he spent many years building custom and spec homes throughout the Salt Lake Valley. Scott maintained his contractor's license until his passing, a reflection of his dedication to the trade.

Scott's love for horses was a way of life. He was an accomplished horseman, trainer, and breeder. He and Tena shared many years raising, training, and showing American Paint Horses. This passion took them across the Western United States, traveling alongside their daughters, friends, and clients to compete at some of the Nation's most prestigious horse shows. Together, they won countless awards and built lifelong friendships. In his later years, Scott traded the show ring for the open trail, where he continued to enjoy his love of horses at a more leisurely pace. He could often be found riding a good-looking Palomino horse on the trail and simply enjoying any time he could get in the saddle.

Scott's work ethic was nothing short of remarkable. What began as a seasonal holiday gig with UPS evolved into an unexpected career of 18 years. At UPS, Scott enjoyed the company of his coworkers, the physical demands of his job, and the great benefits that came with the Union. Scott wasn't built to sit still. He had more energy and drive than most people half his age. It was routine for him to finish a full shift at UPS then head straight to the mall or the Parkway to walk a few more miles, and he had all this done just a few hours after the sun came up. True to his nature, Scott was slinging packages at UPS just hours before his passing.

An avid hunter and outdoorsman, Scott was always at home in the mountains. He loved hunting elk and deer and especially enjoyed chasing pheasants through the fields of North and South Dakota with his beloved hunting dog, Sadie, by his side. His adventurous spirit extended far beyond hunting. Whether carving up the slopes at Alta, water skiing at Flaming Gorge, climbing rocks at Easter Jeep Safari, or running 5Ks alongside his kids, Scott was always up for a little excitement and a good challenge. Some of his memorable adventures included pack trips on horseback deep into Wyoming's Wind River Mountains, snowmobiling through Yellowstone, and hiking the Grand Canyon.

Scott always had an appreciation for open spaces. For many years, their Benchcreek property was a place where he enjoyed making lasting memories with family and friends. In his later years, that love of the Wasatch Mountains carried over to Oakley, Utah, where he built a second home that quickly became one of his favorite places to be. Scott loved escaping the city hustle for the slower pace of small-town life, where he could often be found pulling water lines, mowing pastures, riding his side-by-side, or sharing a cup of coffee in the early morning hours with the old farmers in town.

Scott had plenty to be proud of throughout his life, but his four grandchildren, Sam, Nash, Addi, and Grady, were certainly at the top of that list.

Some of Scott's happiest moments were spent cheering from the sidelines of a baseball field or watching his granddaughter glide across the ice on her figure skates. A lifelong fan of youth baseball, Papa rarely missed an opportunity to watch his grandsons play. He was never shy about proudly pointing out which players were his to any spectators sitting nearby. Papa also treasured the simpler moments, like making pancakes for Grady before heading out to saddle the pony for an early morning ride, or watching episodes of Bonanza on repeat. Scott showed his love for his grandchildren in the best way he knew how--by showing up.

Scott lived life his way. He worked hard, loved his family and friends, and never pretended to be anything other than exactly who he was.

He was preceded in death by his mother Elaine, father Eldon, and brother Randy.

Scott leaves behind his wife, Tena; his children, Sam (Lindsey), Mollie (Theo), and Emily; his four grandchildren, Sam, Nash, Addison, and Grady; brother Jeff (Adrienne), sister Kathy (Brent), sister in law Paige, many nieces and nephews, and a lifetime of friends.

A visitation will be held on Sunday, November 1, 2026, from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. Funeral services will follow on Monday, November 2, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. Grave dedication to follow the funeral service. 

Services will be held at McDougal Funeral Home, 4330 S. Redwood Road, Taylorsville, Utah.

Those who wish to livestream the service may do so at the following link: https://vimeo.com/event/6317542