Myrlan Edwin "Pete" Adams was born in Atascadero, California, the third child of that small central coast city's fire chief, Charles Edwin Adams and his wife Emily Isabel Kaykosh (Kay). His older sister was Edna Emily, and his older brother who died at birth was named Charles E Adams, Jr. His father died on the job when Myrlan was four years old. His mother remarried some years later to Harlan Wilson Finch, also an Atascadero firefighter. The family had two more children Harlan Wilson Finch, Jr and Lynda Carole Finch.

For some reason known only to him, when he was a very small boy and someone would ask his name he would say it was "Pete." The name stuck and was how he was known to all his friends and family.

In 1939 he traveled with his school class to the World's Fair held on Treasure Island in San Francisco. This was to become a significant place for him in the years ahead. World War II broke out when he was a student at Atascadero High School where he was a member of the Future Farmers of America, was a drummer in the school band, and played on the basketball team and enjoyed other sports. He helped out at his uncle Ritchie's restaurant in Atascadero, and formed a life long love for cooking. He joined the US Navy straight out of high school in 1943, became a Radarman and served on the USS Alaska through 1946. He was then given duty on the USS Brinkley Bass in 1947, and went on to serve on the USS Hornet and Hancock and other ships. He was promoted to Chief Petty Officer. Chief Adams became a Radar instructor at the US Navy training center on Treasure Island. It was while stationed there that met his future wife, Marie Anna Stern from Pennsylvania, who was on Treasure Island serving a 4 year term as a WAVE. The couple were married in 1953 and purchased a newly built home in Anaheim, California, convenient to Pete's new stations of duty, Long Beach and San Diego. Over the years, Pete's navy service took him on two world cruises.

Pete and Marie adopted their orphaned nephew and niece, Bill and Kim, in December 1955. The family rented out their home and moved to Livermore, CA when Pete was transferred back to Treasure Island in 1957. After five years the family moved back to their Anaheim house permanently except for Bill who stayed behind to marry his high school sweetheart and made Livermore his permanent home.

Pete attended his second World's Fair when his new ship visited Seattle in 1962. He completed 20 years of service in the US Navy and retired from the service in 1964. After short stints at the post office and then a catering truck business, he went to work in security for Douglas Aircraft (later McDonnell Douglas Aircraft). Pete and Marie did everything together and enjoyed playing softball, fishing and clamming, cooking and entertaining, camping, traveling around by RV with several other couples, and attended dozens of Dixieland festivals. Throughout their lives they participated in weekly bowling leagues and won many tournaments. Pete retired from MDA in 1984. He and Marie sold their Anaheim home of 30 years and hit the road for a 6 month RV trip with friends throughout the United States. Pete visited his 3rd World's Fair on that trip, in New Orleans.

Pete and Marie found a small desert resort to call home in Earp, CA. It was on the Parker Strip of the the Colorado River, across the river from Arizona. Some of their dear lifelong friends also retired there. They loved boating on the river, driving dune buggies out into the desert, the pace of retired life, organizing an annual Thankgiving poker run and other community events, taking many RV trips, and making many new friends. After 10 years there, Pete developed mesothelioma, a rare untreatable cancer associated with asbestos exposure during his Navy service 40 years before. After a six month illness filled with grace and courage, Pete passed away peacefully at home with his family and dear friends surrounding him. His ashes were scattered at sea by plane off Point Loma near San Diego. He was 69 years old.

He was a man well-loved by his family and many dear friends and neighbors. He was survived by his younger siblings, Harlan Finch of San Luis Obispo and Lynda Tilley and her spouse Alfred of Nipomo, his wife Marie Anna Adams of Earp, his son Bill Adams and spouse Renee, his grandson Jeff Adams and spouse Jill, his granddaughter Stephanie Adams and spouse Tim, his great-grandchildren Brian and Skye Adams, all of Livermore; his daughter Kim and spouse Kurt, his granddaughter Suzanne of Berkeley, and his nephews Kengo Duffy and Harlan Finch of Aloha, OR, Dean Johe of San Luis Obispo, and neice Heather Soto of Arroyo Grande .