Graveside service for Mr. Walter Kenneth Ivey, Sr., age 81, of Fayetteville, TN, will be conducted Tuesday, June 7, 2016 at 10 a.m. at Higgins Cedar Hills Memorial Gardens at 23 Memory Ln., Fayetteville, TN 37334 with Bro. Emerson Lyle officiating. A Celebration of Life service will be conducted Sunday, June 12, 2016 at 11 a.m. at Howell First Baptist Church, 491 S. Fishing Ford Rd., Petersburg, TN 37144 with Bro. Brian Gass officiating. Mr. Ivey passed away after a wonderful weekend of competing in mounted shooting.
Mr. Ivey was a native of Montgomery, AL, the son of the late Pete and Inez Yarborough Ivey. He was a retired Engineer for the Department of Defense and worked on the Apollo Missions. He graduated from Auburn University with a B.S. and was active in Track and Field. He was a horse trainer/enthusiast and an award winning Cowboy Mounted Shooter and was known as “The Gentleman Cowboy.” Mr. Ivey was an active member of the Howell First Baptist Church, serving as deacon and Sunday School Superintendent. He was an outstanding role model not only with his horsemanship skills but also in his faith in God which he displayed to anyone who knew him.
Survivors include his wife Mabel Williams Ivey of Fayetteville, daughter Cathy (Bob) Gray of Fayetteville, son Kenny (Debra) Ivey, Jr. of Ardmore, Robert Williams, Wade Williams both of Petersburg, Arlene (Lou) Moorehead of Kelso, grandchildren Laura Ivey Stevens, Drew Ivey, Jenny Gray Flanigan, Rob Gray, Holley Gray, Mary Gray, Morgan Ivey, Jeremy Williams, Erin Marks, Amanda Cavanaugh, Michael Williams, Andrew Welch, twin brother Edward Wayne (Ann) Ivey of Huntsville and 16 great grandchildren. Along with his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife Betty Holley Ivey and grandson Christian Gray.
There will be no visitation prior to the graveside service.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Howell First Bapitst Church Missions fund, PO Box 886, Fayetteville, TN 37334.
Higgins Funeral Home is honored to serve the family of Mr. Walter Kenneth Ivey, Sr.