NANCY MARTIN IVEY

Nancy Martin Ivey, wife of Dr. James F. Ivey (a physician in the Valley from 1969 to 1991), dedicated homemaker for five children and her husband and highly active church member, died July 18, 2004, in Gainesville, Fla. She was 65.

Mrs. Ivey was born Feb. 23, 1939, to Mina and John Martin of Massillon, Ohio. Upon the death of her father when she was 13, her mother moved the family to Orlando, Fla. There, her mother remarried.

It was in high school in Orlando that she met high school sweetheart and Dr. Ivey "to be." In high school, she was involved in numerous activities and received various honors.

She was active in student government and drama in high school and more involved yet in the Presbyterian Church, being elected at one time student moderator for the southeastern United States. While working her way through Maryville College (Tennessee), she traveled as a missionary to Africa and taught underprivileged children. She also began to teach Sunday school in college and continued to do so for more than 40 years.

She and Jim Ivey were married after she earned her bachelor of arts degree and he completed his first year of medical school at Emory University in Atlanta. She taught school for two years, sixth and seventh grade, and was known for her exuberance and creativity, which continued to be major parts of her personality.

Nancy and Jim Ivey moved to Palmer in 1969 with three children. She bore two more children by 1973.

While living in Palmer, besides being a mother of five, a grandmother of one and a foster mother of two, she worked with youth and other groups at the United Protestant Church, which she and her husband called the center of their lives in Palmer. She fell in love with Alaska and the community of Palmer. She loved to "shout to the mountains" and "listen to the leaves laughing" when the Matanuska Valley winds blew.

Mrs. Ivey was devoted to her children, encouraging their development in areas ranging from various musical endeavors to trapping. Her family and many beloved friends said she was a wise and exuberant woman who "lit up" rooms with her sparkling spirit, causing people to love her merely by speaking two or three sentences. She loved them back and always put others before herself. She was esteemed by husband, children and eventually 11 grandchildren to a degree few people have ever been by anyone.

Her husband said he does not remember that she ever spoke an unkind word, and says their mutual devotion and respect, and their give-give relationship, was second to none. To him, she was unique, and she was able to call him "the king" and still be her own person.

Recently her rheumatoid arthritis, which had caused marked pain and problems with ambulation for years, became complicated to the degree that she was frequently quite ill and often hospitalized. Her ability to inspire only grew, but her strength waned until her body could give her no more years or even days.

She is survived by her husband of nearly 43 years; siblings, Judy Crews, Pat Hughes, Bill Martin, Maurice Carlson and Elizabeth Bissett; daughter, Mary Nell Ivey Hasson, of Gainesville, Fla.; sons, James Thomas Ivey of Franklin, N.C., John Mark Ivey of Orlando, Fla., Samuel Service Ivey of Palmer, Daniel Dominic Ivey of Boston; and grandchildren, Christina, Colton, Jolie, Jakin, Chandon, Gabrianne, Alexandra, Angelica, Benjamin, Alyssa and Grace. Recently she was blessed with a great-granddaughter, Layla Ivey Thomas.

She was preceded in death by her sister, Pam Maas.

A memorial service was held July 23 at Trinity United Methodist Church, in Gainesville, Fla. A similar service will be scheduled for September and announced at a later date, to take place at United Protestant Church in Palmer.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the youth program at the United Protestant Church in Palmer.