Ionia County MI Archives Obituaries.....Ferris, Ardist "Ardie" Elaine (Jenks) April 17, 2026
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Patricia Currigan currigan1932@concast.net June 24, 2026, 7:10 pm

Lake Funeral Home Ionia - April 2026

Excerpts from Ionia Obituary

ARDIST FERRIS

Died April 17, 2026-age 84 of Lyons,MI, surrounded by family.
Born August 18, 1941 to Albert and Elmira (Blos) Jenks.
Ardie was the baby of the family, next to her older brothers Larry & Lloyd until 
her sister Ann was born 13 years later.
Ardie & Lloyd were involved with 4-H and grew vegetables to compete at the Ionia 
Free Fair.
She married Duane Ferris in 1960 & moved to Colorado where he was stationed in 
the Army. They returned a year later & settled on the Ferris Brothers Dairy on 
Keefer Highway.
Ardie led a 4-H leader outdoor cooking club before her children were born. 
When her children, Steve, Linda & Roger grew, she helped with bunny, sheep, goat 
and steer projects as a Mom & a 4-H rabbit leader. 
In 1977 she established and ran the Small Animal Sale at the Free Fair as the 
Superintendent finally retiring close o 50 years service as a Leader.
In 2022 Ardie was nominated & honored as the Fair's Woman of the Year Award.
She also worked at the Independent Bank when the kids started school, later 
switched to the Post Office as a rural carrier while helping Duane on the farm.
Duane started the Lyons Muir Lions Club in 1980 & Ardie was in charge of club's 
Ag scholarships for graduating high school seniors.
Survived by her children, Linda (Dave) Coon & Roger (Kelly) Ferris & daughter-
in-law Sue ferris; her grandchildren Zack Coon (Ashleigh Jackson), Laura (Ethan 
Bowman, Niki Coon, Shane (Grace) Ferris & Cheyenne Ferris.
Five great-grandchildren; Weston, Jacob, Adalyn, Emerson and Mason.
Her survived by her brother, Larry Jenks, sisters-in-law Donna Jenks & Audrey 
Keefer, many nieces & nephews & cousins
Preceded in death by her parents, husband Duane, soon Steve, grandson Luke, 
brothers (Baby)Leon and Lloyd, sister, Ann Chambers & sisters-in-law, Sharon & 
Virginia and brothers-in-law Basil and Doug.
Visitation will be April 24 from 4 to 7pm at Lake funeral Home in Ionia.
Memorial services will follow at LeValley Methodist Church on Saturday, April 25 
at 11am. with Pastor Nancy Patera officiating. A luncheon will follow at the 
church.

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