Martha Ivester

Martha Allene Ivester, 80, of Cape Girardeau passed away Tuesday, Dec. 18, 2012, at Southeast Hospital.

She was born March 26, 1932, in Miami to William and Martha Herndon Perry.

Martha worked in her home as a child care provider most of her life and she and her husband, Harry, owned and operated Western Auto Store in Cape Girardeau a few years during the 1970s.

She is survived by her husband of 61 years, Harry F. Ivester of Cape Girardeau; three children, Julie Ann Finley of Cape Girardeau, Frances Allene Johnson of Oran, Mo., and Gregory Allen Ivester of Cape Girardeau; four grandchildren, Richard Jason (Judy Ann) Wilde of Fruitland, Melanie Danielle Wilde of Scott City, Nicole Allison Johnson of Fairfield, Ill., and Timothy Raymond (Krystal Nichole) Finley of Cape Girardeau; four great-grandchildren, Elizabeth Shaune and Alexander Donavan Dobbs of Scott City and Laila Rose and Brielle Nichole Finley of Cape Girardeau; in-laws, Connie Ivester of Indiana, Jerry Ivester of Michigan, Gerta Ivester of Arizona, Joan Perry of Delaware, Jo and Lowell Rainey of Georgia and Betty Ivester of Scott City; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Friends may call from 10 a.m. until service time Friday at Maple United Methodist Church.

The funeral will be at noon Friday at the church, with Bryan Schaefer officiating. Burial will be in Missouri State Veterans Cemetery at Bloomfield, Mo.

Memorial contributions may be given to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital or Maple United Methodist Church.

Ford and Sons Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Online condolences may be shared at www.fordandsonsfuneralhome.com.