Ardis Sly Coe, age 92, of Roswell passed away peacefully on February 23, 2021. She will be remembered for her outpouring love for Jesus Christ and the ways she cared for family and friends. She was born in Fairfax, Missouri on November 9, 1928 as the daughter of William and Helen Sly. After graduating from Fairfax High School, she attended the University of Missouri and received a Bachelor of Arts in vocal performance from Tarkio College. She was a member of Pi Beta Phi Social Sorority and Sigma Alpha Iota Honorary Scholastic Music Fraternity, and upon graduation received the Alpha Chi Alpha Outstanding Musician Award. Ardis married Ryland Coe in 1949, and bore three children: Kristin
Ford, Melanie Jutte and Stuart Coe.
Throughout her life she used her gift of singing, a talent she carefully stewarded. Her family was
her main focus, yet she found time to continue a singing career. Her enjoyment for sharing her talent
produced a soloist whose voice moved over an impressive range of music from Brahms to Broadway.
However, Christian music claimed a large part of her musical career, and she performed for many
Christian conferences and retreats, including two Israel tours with Precepts Ministries as a soloist.
Her love for Jesus Christ was evident in all aspects of her life, especially in the way she consistently
prayed for others. She was active in Bible studies and led a women’s Bible study in her home every
Wednesday night for many years.
Ardis and her husband moved to Roswell, Georgia in 1980 and she became active in many
organizations, including church choirs, the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra chorus, Christian Women’s
Club, P.E.O, Daughters of the American Revolution, Brookfield Women’s Club and bridge groups.
She had a heart for the mentally handicapped and maintained relationships with the clients from
Enable’s group homes. One of her consistent labors of love was making birthday cakes for loved
ones, including her renowned carrot cake. Her love was always for her family, including her children,
grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Ardis was preceded in death by her husband, Ryland Coe, her parents, William and Helen Sly, her
sister and brother-in-law Beverly and Bob Gerdes, and her brother Henry Sly. She is survived by her
children and their spouses: Kristin and John Ford, Melanie and Jeff Jutte, and Stuart and Kimberly
Coe; her seven grandchildren and their spouses, Kelly and Van Vandegriff, Kathryn and Glen Miller,
Jessica and Geoffrey Bertram, Jacob and Jessica Ford, Jennifer and Chad Stanhope, Sterling Coe and
Kenna Coe; and her twelve great grandchildren which include Aidan Vandegriff, Kegan Vandegriff,
Brynn Vandegriff, Isaiah Bertram, Gabby Bertram, Norah Stanhope, Regan Stanhope, Seth Miller, Max
Miller, Hazel Miller, Hannah Ford and Emmy Ford. She’s also survived by six nieces and one nephew.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Incommunity, a nonprofit that works to enrich and
sustain those with developmental disabilities, their families and their communities. To donate go to
incommunity.ga.org or mail donations to Incommunity 1200 Old Ellis Road, Roswell, Georgia 30076.
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Incommunity1200 Old Ellis Road, Roswell, Georgia 30076
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