Claude Tebbs Adams

Claude Tebbs Adams returned to his loving Father in Heaven on November 14, 2025, in Parowan, Utah at the age of 88. He was born on April 12, 1937, in Panguitch, Utah, to Cecil Pearl Tebbs and Claude Whitney Adams. His younger years were spent growing up in Panguitch where he made many fond memories at his Grandma and Grandpa Tebbs’ house playing with his cousins, fishing, going to the horse races and rodeos, spending time at the Tebbs Ranch and getting into mischief! His family moved to Parowan, and he attended Parowan High School graduating in 1955. He spent his summers working at Bryce Canyon. After graduating he enrolled at the University of Utah. While attending the University he worked as a custodian at ZCMI. It is here where he met and fell in love with Judy Newton who was a model and elevator girl at ZCMI. Shortly after meeting her, he was accepted to West Point, however, he was so in love he declined the offer and married Judy instead. They were married November 22, 1957, in the Salt Lake LDS Temple. After graduating from the University of Utah with a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting he went on to have several successful careers including Auditor at Dugway Proving Grounds, Neighborhood Health Center and Blue Cross Blue Shields; CPA and partner at Bunker & Jones; Controller at Southern Utah State College; Treasurer at the University of Utah; Vice President of Financial Affairs at Southern Utah University; Assistant Vice President of Finance at the Idaho State University; and as a Certified Fraud Investigator for Savage Investigations. He especially enjoyed working with the good people at SUU where he made many lifetime friends including his best friend, Darryl Schramm. His sweet wife Judy passed away in 1994. He retired from SUU a year later. While staying with his daughter Peggy and her family in Idaho he went to a singles ward party where he met Paula Gallup. They were married on October 17, 1997, and spent 28 wonderful years together. Although he moved to Idaho his heart always remained in Panguitch and Parowan. He had a soft heart for animals, especially dogs. His dog Bella has been his loyal companion for 12 years. Wherever he went she was always by his side. He was an avid Utes fan and closely followed all their games. He was a man of great integrity, he was honest, kindhearted and had a great sense of humor. We are going to miss playing family game nights over the years and how we would laugh until we cried playing Balderdash. He was a wonderful husband, dad, brother, grandpa and friend. He will be greatly missed but we are comforted knowing he is having a wonderful reunion with his wife Judy and all the other loved ones who have gone before him.

Tebbs is survived by his wife Paula, brother David Adams, brother-in-law Roger (Camille) Newton; his four children Peggy (Jeff) Johnson, Cecilia (Brian) Johnson, Dan (Barb) Adams and Jayne (Dan) Stones, 12 grandchildren and 27 great-grandchildren; Paula’s 2 children Garan (Stephanie) Gallup and Kalyn (Jeff) Lee and Paula’s 7 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his faithful dog Bella. He was proceeded in death by his parents, wife Judy, sisters Claudia Halterman and Joan Lee; his granddaughter Melissa Adams, great granddaughter Jayla Keene and Paula’s daughter Jennifer Olson.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, November 22nd at the Parowan 2nd Ward, 59 S. 100 W. at 1:00 p.m. under the direction of Southern Utah Mortuary. A viewing will be held prior to the services from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Interment will be in the Parowan City Cemetery. The family would like to give a special thanks to Kennedy Davis for all the love and care she gave to our husband, dad and grandpa during his final days.