Diane Ardis Obituary

Former longtime Durango resident Diane Dean Ardis died on Thursday, Sept. 11, 2014, at her home in Phoenix. She was 64. The cause death was not disclosed.

Mrs. Ardis was born the second of four children to John and Dean Terry on May 9, 1950, in Norman, Oklahoma. She was raised in Oklahoma and attended schools in Davis, Oklahoma City and finally Ardmore. She graduated from Ardmore High School in 1968, and she returned to Norman to attend the University of Oklahoma, where she majored in English.

In August 1970, Diane married her high school sweetheart, Scott Ardis, at University Chapel in Norman. The couple settled there, and Diane completed her studies at OU, earning a bachelor's degree in English. In December 1973, the couple's daughter, Taylor, was born.

In 1976, Mrs. Ardis began what was to become a lifelong career as a teacher. She worked in Norman and Oklahoma City as a preschool teacher for the next 10 years. During this time, Mrs. Ardis studied the teachings of Maria Montessori and became a certified Montessori instructor and an advocate of the Montessori method of teaching.

Mrs. Ardis moved with her family to Durango in the summer of 1986. In September of that year, Diane opened the doors of Durango's first Montessori preschool, Children's House of Durango. Originally housed on Glenisle Avenue, Children's House began that fall with just six students. A year later, in September 1987, Diane and Scott's son, Austin, was born.

In 1989, with Children's House growing, Diane and her husband, Scott, purchased the home on West Third Avenue where Children's House continues to reside. She sold Children's House to a new owner in 1995 but continued on as a director and teacher until she retired in 2004.

Mrs. Ardis also became an active member of St. Mark's Episcopal Church after joining in 1986. She revived the Sunday school program for preschoolers and taught Sunday lessons there for several years.

In 2005, Mrs. Ardis moved to Arizona to be close to family after the birth of her first granddaughter, Grace.

Mrs. Ardis is survived by her daughter, Taylor Horner, of Phoenix; a son, Austin Ardis, of Phoenix; and two granddaughters, who also live in Phoenix. She also is survived by sisters Debbie Symes of Oklahoma City, and Liz Tiffany, of Norman; a brother, Jim Terry, of Norman; and former husband Scott Ardis of Durango.

A celebration of Mrs. Ardis' life will be held at 9 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 18, 2014, at St. Mark's Episcopal Church in Durango.