Charles L. Ivey

Charles (Chuck) was born on January 5, 1949, at Enid, Oklahoma, the son of Cecil and Betty (LaForge) Ivey. He graduated from Enid Senior High School in June 1967, then attended Oklahoma State University. Wanting to serve his country, he enlisted in the Marine Corps in October 1968. His service in the Marine Corps included graduation in January 1969 from Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego, California, in the top 10% of his class and Infantry Training School at Camp Pendleton. Upon graduation, he was given orders to Millington, Tennessee to receive his training as an Aircraft and Jet Engine Mechanic. He was then accepted into Aircrew Mechanic School for being in the top 10% of his class. Upon completion of his formal schools, Chuck was given orders to New River Marine Corps Air Station, North Carolina to serve as an Air Crew Chief with Marine Helicopter Squadron-261. Chuck was deployed six months aboard the USS Guadalcanal to numerous locations within the Caribbean and South America. In September 1970, Chuck received orders (after numerous personal requests) to Vietnam and was stationed at Marble Mountain Marine Air Base near De Nang with Helicopter Marine Medium Squadron-262. While in Vietnam, he flew over 25 hostile combat air missions in support of the Vietnam conflict. After a successful tour in Vietnam, Chuck was reassigned in September 1971 to the USS Iwo Jima Aircraft Carrier battle group in Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii. In December 1971, Chuck returned to New River Marine Corps Air Station, North Carolina with Marine Helicopter Squadron-402 and served out the remainder of his enlistment. Chuck was honorably discharged from the Marine Corps October 1974 as a Staff Sergeant with over five years of active faithful service. He received the following Military awards: Marine Corps Combat Air Crew Badge, Air Medal with 25 Combat Missions, Vietnam Service Medal with Two Stars, Vietnam Civil Action Unit Citation with Palm, Vietnam Campaign Medal, National Defense Medal, Good Conduct Medal, Naval Unit Commendation and Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation.

He went on to lead a successful 34-plus year career in the automotive sector, holding jobs at Jernberg Industries in Chicago, Illinois, and with Woodbridge Corporation, accepting the position of Quality Control Manger at Kansas City Foam in 1989, a subsidiary of Woodbridge Corporation. His final position within Woodbridge Corporation was as Plant Manager of Woodbridge Sequencing Center in Kansas City, Missouri, with a staff of 165 employees.

Chuck was a devoted member of St. Joseph Catholic Church, serving as an usher at 10:30 mass, and was very active in the parish grade school. He loved being with his family and playing golf.

Thankful and ever grateful for having shared in his wonderful life are his wife of almost 20 years Mary Kerkvliet Ivey, beloved children Jenny, Charles Jr. (Lacy), Claire and Emily, his mother Betty, devoted brother Ron (Susan) Ivey, loving sister Cecilia (Robert) Runnels, grandchildren Noelle, Noah and Judah, and many aunts, uncles, in-laws, nieces, nephews, cousins and good friends. Chuck touched the lives of many people and will be loved and forever missed. He was preceded in death by his father Cecil Ivey in 2000. Blessed be his memory.

The family requests donations be sent to: Sisters, Servants of Mary, 800 North 18th Street, Kansas City, Kansas 66102.

Visitation and Funeral Service

Friends and family are invited to attend a rosary and visitation service on Sunday, July 12, 2009, at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 11311 Johnson Drive, Shawnee, Kansas 66203, 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. The funeral service will be held Monday, July 13, 2009, 10:00 a.m., at St. Joseph Catholic Church. The burial service will be held at the Resurrection Cemetery in Lenexa, Kansas.