Donald Ivie Sr.

ZALMA, Mo. -- Donald Eugene Ivie Sr, 85, of Zalma passed away Monday, Feb. 28, 2022, surrounded by family at his home.

He was born Oct. 19, 1936, in Cairo, Illinois, the son of Paul H. Ivie Sr. and Alice Marie Mattox Ivie Courtney. He was united in marriage to Norma "Sue" Gremar on Aug. 29, 1959, at Kankakee, Illinois, and she survives of the home.

Donald was a veteran of the U.S. Air Force, serving from July 7, 1954, to July 7, 1958.

Donald moved to Southern California in 1966, where he worked for North American Rockwell Aviation. Later, he moved to El Paso, Texas, where he worked for Baptist Spanish Publishing House until he retired in 1996 for health reasons. He lived in Seguin, Texas, for two years before moving to Albuquerque, New Mexico, in 2001. In 2005 he moved to the Zalma area.

Donald was a member of the Bethel General Baptist Church since January 2007. He started a video ministry. He and his wife were also the unofficial church photographers for many years.

He was a ham radio operator and loved to talk to his friends all over the country each morning, except on Sundays. Donald also loved to paint on canvas and continued until four days before he died. He had a dry sense of humor and kept his friends laughing. He was also known for spinning a two-minute tale into a 30-minute story! Donald's many health issues slowed him down as he got older, but he would never give up. Many times, he would say to friends, "You need to start out slow and then taper off!"

Survivors include two sons, Donald (Mary) Ivie Jr. of Rio Rancho, New Mexico, and Brian (Paula) Ivie Sr. of Linn Creek, Missouri; two daughters, Joni (Tom) Lippert of Rio Rancho and Debra (Ed) Perez of San Antonio, Texas; a sister, Mary Norvell of Ocala, Florida; 14 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; many loving nieces and nephews and a host of other relatives.

Donald was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, two sisters and two great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be from 9 to 11 a.m. Friday at Bethel General Baptist Church near Advance, Missouri.

A funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Friday at the church. Burial will follow at the Missouri State Veterans Cemetery at Bloomfield. The Rev. Fred Ritter will officiate.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Bethel General Baptist of Advance or the Bollinger County Stray Project.