PORT ANGELES — When Sharon Adams gazes up toward the Christmas tree placed as part of the city’s Conrad Dyar Memorial Fountain holiday display, she’ll think of her husband.
That’s because the fir tree, set to be donated by Adams, will be dedicated to the memory of her late husband, Lance Adams, who died Nov. 4 of Alzheimer’s disease at the age of 73.
Sharon Adams, owner of Black Diamond Winery, has agreed to give a tree from her property about 3 miles south on Black Diamond Road to the city for use in the annual holiday display.
Corey Delikat, the city’s parks and recreation director, said his staff found Adams through her neighbor, Nancy Vivolo.
Adams said Vivolo, who often walks the dirt road bordering their two properties, said she thought a handful of firs on Adams’ land would be perfect for the city’s needs.
“And I thought it was a good idea,” Adams said.
“Nancy’s a good neighbor.”
Delikat said between five and six fir trees, ranging in height from 35 to 40 feet, were picked out as potential candidates.
“[The parks and recreation staffers] were, like, in awe,” Delikat said.
“[They said,] ‘We have lots to choose from up here.’”
Parks and recreation crews, with help from a city light operations boom truck, likely will go to Adams’ property Thursday to retrieve the tree and install it at the Dyar fountain plaza, Delikat said.
Adams said the tree will be a fitting tribute to her late husband.
“He loved the property here,” Adams said.
He loved working out of doors here and caring for the property.”
A cabinet-maker all his life, he came up with the idea of starting a winery because he wanted to do something different, she said.
“We had made some wine for ourselves, and he said, ‘Let’s start a winery,’ and we did,” she said.
“He took pleasure in making the wine and having people come and enjoy it.”
The couple began Black Diamond Winery in 2000.
Adams said her husband will be remembered for the hard work he put into both his cabinet work and winemaking.
Adams recalled a photo of her husband as a 13-month-old holding an ax that stood taller than he did.
“Lance was a very hard-working man who had a work ethic from the time he was a baby,” Adams said.
“He was that way his whole life.”
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Reporter Jeremy Schwartz can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5074, or at jschwartz@peninsuladailynews.com.
