Loy Reece Ivester, 94, of Sunset Drive, Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., formerly of Anderson County, died Jan. 12 in Florida.

Mr. Ivester was born July 23, 1899 in Knoxville to the late Howell R. and Lula Bayless Ivester.

He had lived in the Wolf Valley community until moving to Palm Beach Gardens in 1965.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Emma Henry Ivester, in March 1983. The couple met through a mutual friend while Mr. Ivester was on leave from South America working for Standard Oil Co. of New Jersey. They were married in February 1932 by the Rev. George Creswell.

They lived in Colombia, South America and two daughters were born there. Mr. Ivester also worked in the Oklahoma oil fields for many years, and then was employed in Oak Ridge until World War I I ended. He then started a dairy farm in East Wolf Valley. After moving to Florida he had been involved in other types of work.

During his years on the farm, the Ivesters were very active in improvement projects and were prominent members of the community. He donated part of the land for a cemetery at Wolf Valley Baptist Church. The couple was very active in the Greenway Community Club and she in the Home Demonstration Club. Mrs. Ivester started the Greenway Community Library in her home with a bookmobile that came every few weeks.

Mr. Ivester's farm was one of the first test farms connected with the county agent's office and he was a member of the planning commission.

Mr. Ivester was a life member of the Valley Lodge No. 383 F&AM Masonic Lodge of Andersonville and a member of the First Baptist Church of Lake Park, Fla.

Survivors include two daughters, Barsha Lynn Ruble of Heiskell and Mary Jo Roddy of Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.; sons, Loy Reece Ivester, Jr. of Dallas, Texas; Henry E. Ivester of Oklahoma City, Okla.; Robert Neil Ivester of Clearwater, Fla.; Hugh Jack Ivester of Cheyenne, Wyo.; Arthur Chase Ivester of Port Mayaca, Fla.; sister, Mrs. Genevieve Kezze of Jacksonville, Fla.; brother, Dr. J.O. Ivester of New London, NC.; 17 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren..

Services were Saturday at Holley Gamble Funeral Home Chapel. Burial will be at 2 pm Sunday at the Wolf Valley Baptist Church Cemetery. A Masonic service preceded the funeral service.

Source:
Clinton Courier News
16/17 Jan. 1994