Ardis Mae Peters

Peters, Mrs.

Ardis Mae

Grand Haven, Michigan

Ardis Mae Peters died on August 6, 2023 after a short stay in an assisted living memory care facility. She showed remarkable yet expected independence, endurance, strength, and resilience during her stay there as she did throughout her life.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Richard L. Peters, in 2014 after 64 years of marriage, as well as two of her sons, Bob in 1980 and Jim in 2021.

She is survived by her son John (Karen), Grandchildren Tiffany (Logan), Jamie, Philip (Jill), Rick (Sonja), Ashima, Jennifer (Michael), Angela (Doug), Thomas and great-grandchildren Piper, Hadley, Natalia, Luka, Theodore, Audrey, Daniel, and Blair Ardis.

She was born October 7, 1927 to George Herbert and Esther Marie Allen (nee Loberg) in Muskegon, MI, and resided in the area nearly all her 95+ years of life. As a child, after a short move to Lima, OH her family returned to Muskegon and they lived in many neighborhoods which resulted in her attending various schools in the Muskegon area including Moon, Nims, Bluffton, and Nelson. She developed close friends at all of them along the way.

The first of her family to graduate from high school, she was an active member of Muskegon High School class of '45, belonging to numerous clubs and organizations, and playing an active role in the reunion committee for over 70 years, attending her last reunion (75th) in 2020.

She started working quite young at a local soda fountain and drug store. She went on to work at Brunswick, Sealed Power, and North Muskegon City Hall. She was a fun-loving, and valued employee wherever she worked.

Ardis was exceptionally generous with her time and resources to many organizations over the years, with a particular fondness for veterans, wildlife, local museums, the crop walk and interfaith groups. Her gift to family and friends included the Norwegian Fattigan (poor man) cookies that she learned to make with her immigrant mother and grandmother. Some years she would make wild grape jelly labeled after the location where she found the grapes, thus we enjoyed - train track jelly, fence jelly, and fallen tree jelly. If you were lucky enough to get a loaf of her Swedish coffee bread at Christmas, it was probably the gift you looked most forward to receiving.

Her curiosity and sense of adventure led her to travel the world, most usually with her Aunt Connie, who was more like a sister to her. Together, they traveled the American West, Europe including Norway, and the far East. She was a life-long learner, attending classes at Muskegon Community College in history and writing as well as taking correspondence courses at home. She was a poet, as well as a writer who has some of her articles published over the years.

A life long Christian Scientist, she served in leadership roles in the First Church in Muskegon as board member, treasurer, first and second reader, and continued her active participation in the Grand Haven church as well, even at ninety years old. She was a veritable bible scholar. Firm in her beliefs, expectations, and standards, she was, at the same time, open minded, curious, and receptive to other viewpoints and experiences. When her grandchildren read the Harry Potter book series, she did too. When her beloved brother, John Allen, came out as gay in the fifties, she was determined to read all she could about it as well as attending local meetings of what was then called the Gay and Lesbian Alliance in order to seek information and a better understanding.

Ardis was at once, confident, selfless, and reliable. She was a wonderful daughter, sister, niece, and mother. When life delivered a challenge to a family member, she was likely to offer a letter of support and wisdom, often containing sage advice grounded in her faith.

Not only was she a mother to three boys, but also to some of their friends. She was often known among them as the "cool mom" not because she sought to be their friend but she took a sincere interest in them and treated them with kindness and their interests and ideas respect. One such friend said on Mother's Day, "She's not my mother but she represents to me what a mother ought to be." Another felt her welcoming demeanor making him part of our family on Thanksgiving visits during his college years.

A lover of art fairs, art, and jewelry, she attended countless such events with her aunt, brother, mother, children, and grandchildren. Known for her numerous and unique pieces of jewelry she had one for every outfit and every occasion. It was always fun to see her even match earrings with sweatshirts.

She was a lover of dogs and in turn, loved and greeted her. They chose her lap as the first to sit on or the chair to sit next to. Blessed by grandchildren and great grandchildren; she loved them all and they loved and respected her back.

MEMORIAL SERVICE

Monday, August 14, 2023, 11am at Clock Funeral Home with Katie Neuman officiating. VISITATION: One hour prior to the service at the funeral home. MEMORIAL: Please send memorial contributions to Mission for Area People (MAP) and Friends of Hackley Public Library. Please visit www.clockfuneralhome.com to leave a memory or sign the online guestbook.

Clock Funeral Home - Muskegon