Ardeth Dickson

Our beloved wife, mother, and grandmother, Ardie Dickson, moved gracefully into her next adventure, at home, surrounded by her loved ones on Friday, November 18, 2016. Ardie was diagnosed with metastatic lung cancer 18 months ago, and received sensitive and caring treatment at Rocky Mountain Cancer Center in Boulder and in her home from Tru Community Care. She embraced the end of her life with her customary curiosity and courage, and couldn’t wait to see what happens next. She said she just wanted to just get on with it!
Ardie was born to Arthur and Kathryn Taylor in Denver, CO August, 21 1939. She attended Catholic schools, graduating from St. Francis de Sales High School in 1957, where she discovered the love of her life and future husband, Steve. They married July, 23 1960 and started their remarkable family. They moved to Boulder in 1966, where Ardie enjoyed raising four small children while finishing her degree in Early Childhood Education from the University Without Walls, through Loretto Heights College.
In 1968, Ardie participated in rallies following the death of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., which developed into the formation of New Horizons Cooperative Pre School where she began teaching and later became Teacher/Director. New Horizons is a cross-cultural, bilingual preschool where she helped children and families of all backgrounds learn and embrace each other’s differences. In 1980, Ardie also joined the part time faculty at Community College of Denver as an instructor in Early Childhood Education training of adults. Her publications include a bilingual children’s book, “Vengan al Estanque, Come to the Pond”, and an instructional book for teachers exploring creative moment with their students, “On the Move”. She participated in the development of and edited the Colorado curriculum for day care providers. Ardie retired from New Horizons in 2004, having literally bestowed her remarkable love, and her enthusiasm for learning and growth on many hundreds of children and parents.
Ardie was an active volunteer in our community, as a Board member at Emergency Family Assistance Association, City of Boulder Technical Review Committee member, I Have a Dream Foundation mentor, Intercambio Uniting Communities teacher/mentor, and teachers’ aide at Kinder Escuela in Santa Clara, Sonora, Mexico.
Ardie earned many honors and awards during her career, including 1987 Part Time Teacher of the Year at Community College of Denver, 2000 BCAEYC Educator of the Year, 2006 Boulder Daily Camera Pacesetter Award for Education and the 2014 Partnership Award from Intercambio Uniting Communities. Ardie was a proud member of the ACLU, NAACP, the Southern Poverty Law Center, the Democratic Party, the AARP Foundation, and was a supporter of many children’s charities.
Ardie is survived by her husband of 56 years, Stephen Dickson, Sr., sister Karlyne Hagy, children and their spouses Susan Dickson, Stephen Jr. and Jody Dickson, Amy and Paul Plache, and Andrew and Kerstin Dickson. Ardie’s grandchildren are Jeremy, Timothy and Michael Trujillo, Zachary and Paul Dickson, Abigail and Luke Plache, and Erin and John Dickson and eight great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, brother Harold Taylor, and sister Mary Helen Woodman.
The family plans a private placing of her ashes. A memorial gathering is scheduled December 17 at 2 p.m. at Greenwood and Myers Mortuary 2969 Baseline Road, Boulder CO. Gifts in Ardie’s honor can be made to New Horizons Cooperative Preschool, Intercambio Uniting Communities, or the Rocky Mountain Cancer Centers.