May 29, 1937-June 8, 2015

Ardis Bird Metcalf was born in Seattle on May 29, 1937, to Floyd and Elsie (Fraasch) Chapman. She died on June 8, 2015, at her home in Portland, Ore., at the age of 78. 

On March 10, 1956, Ardis married Chester E. Metcalf in San Luis Obispo, Calif. She led an adventurous early life, traveling with her husband and four small children to go live in Alaska. Not only did she home school them for a number of years, but also lived in a remote area where there was no running water or electricity. Ardis helped run a shrimp processor, and lived in a logging camp and on a floating house within yards of bears and wolves.

During her life she took on many different jobs to help support her family, including commercial laundry, bookkeeping, tax accountant, bartending, attendant and caretaking. Later in life, when she contracted a heart condition, she focused on enjoying things closer to home: gardening, quilting, cooking, canning, playing games on the computer, and finding treasures at garage or estate sales. 

“Through it all she brought drive, determination and a feisty, positive spirit to everyone around her. Her generosity and happiness in helping others made her a wonderful friend whether you knew her for two minutes or 20years. She will be greatly missed by those her life touched, as well as many cats, birds and squirrels who all knew where to go for love…and a great meal,” her family said. 

She is predeceased by her parents, Floyd and Elsie Chapman, and her husband, Chester Metcalf.

Ardis is survived by her four children, Leroy Metcalf of Anchorage, Pauline Rollins of Centralia, Wash., David Metcalf of Centralia and Kimberly Metcalf of Portland, Ore.. She also is survived by five grandchildren.

Family will be announcing a celebration of life gathering at a later date. Please visit her memorial page at gatewaylittlechapel.com to share memories and leave condolences for family.