Ardis "Art" Wayne Peters

Ardis “Art” Wayne Peters passed away peacefully at home in Louisville on November 4th, 2025, at the age of 82, after a year of failing health. The son of LeRoy G. and Ileen Wilson Peters, he was born in Alma, Michigan, February 21st, 1943. Upon turning 16, Art began a long and multi-disciplined career successfully enjoying many occupations. Renowned singer Dolly Parton’s song “Coat of Many Colors” encapsulated Art’s persona as he was a “Man of Many Hats”. From hard hats and welding helmets to ball caps and a chef hat, Art was exceptionally talented and creative with his hands.

Art began his work life as a skilled brick and stone mason, a builder of homes, providing housing for many throughout Georgia, a builder of dairy barns, an inventor, machinist and fabricator servicing farmers of Jefferson County as the owner and operator of A&C Welding and Farm Supply in Wrens. He was a farmer, a cabinet maker, and a restaurateur. When his body could not accommodate the physical demands of construction, and unable to accept the concept of “retirement”, he embarked on his last occupation as a truck driver. He delivered cabinets to hotels all the way up the eastern seaboard and as far west as Texas and Nebraska, often with Susie riding shotgun.

Art also had a penchant for wanderlust that led his family from Ithaca, Michigan, to Tampa, Florida, to Jefferson County, Dawson County, and finally back to Jefferson County.

While being a skilled craftsman was what Art was most known for, he also donated his numerous skills for those in need as a volunteer for the Southern Baptist Convention Emergency Disaster Response Team. He responded to rescue and relief efforts due to natural disasters from Texas and Louisiana to Indiana and Ohio, serving as a clean-up team supervisor, chainsaw operator, and even a cook feeding the hungry. While a member of the First Baptist Church of Dawsonville, Art made three trips to Alaska to help repair and build churches on behalf of the First Baptist Church of Dawsonville where he served as a deacon.

In addition to his many endeavors as a craftsman, perhaps Art’s greatest dedication was caring for his beloved wife of 62 years, Suzanne “Susie” Karolle Peters, whom he met in Ithaca, Michigan, in 1961. They were married in 1963 and had two children, Darrin W. Peters (Helen) of Hollywood, Maryland, and Jodie K. Purvis (Marty) of Louisville, and an adopted son Partick W. Peters (Amber) of Staunton, Virginia. Art has two grandsons Aaron Ardis Peters of Melbourne, Florida, and Logan Pierce Peebles of Louisville, two granddaughters Catherine Sparks (Nathan) and Alyson Brooks (Zackary) of Hollywood, Maryland, and three great-granddaughters Sierra Rose Peebles, Savannah June Sparks, and Isla Belle Sparks.

While Art personified the gruff and tough nature of his generation, he often was unable to mask the big heart that beat within his chest. He would often be moved to tears in emotional moments and every time a relative would depart the driveway after a holiday visit.

Art is proceeded in death by his parents LeRoy and Ileen Peters, four brothers, Alden, Verle, Merle, and Glenn Peters. He is survived by two sisters, Marcille Holdeman of Brookville, Mississippi, and Patricia Holdeman of Louisville.

The memorial service will be held at 10:30 AM at the James Funeral Home on Saturday, November 15, 2025. Burial will be in the Pinecrest Cemetery.