George T. Ivie

George Thomas Ivie, age 88, passed away on March 2, 2026.  He was born on October 10, 1937 in Evansville, Indiana to William (Norman) Ivie and Teresa Ivie (née Payne) of Owensboro, Kentucky.  George was the second oldest of nine children and started working from the age of 12 on a farm training dogs.  Upon graduating from Kelloggsville High School in 1955 he joined the US Army at the age of 17, serving his country honorably as a Law Clerk in the Court-Martial office in France until he was 21. George was self-employed for the majority of his career, starting an appliance repair business in 1971 along with his “business partner” and mother of his children, Marcy.  Ivie Service Company was well respected within the greater GR area for decades where he encountered many heartwarming moments, comical and dire. Once rescuing a family in the midst of hysteria with 12 guests and a half-baked turkey in the oven on Thanksgiving Day, commanding ferocious dogs to GO LAY DOWN, and one harrowing day when a customer not home at the time, found him more concerned and apologetic for the blood he was getting on her kitchen floor after severing the tendons of his hand while repairing her trash compactor.

George was a man of many talents including cooking, baking and woodcarving. He was an avid gardener and had a beautiful pond stocked with Koi and water lilies.  He loved to dance and was active with the GR Civic Theater.  He enjoyed playing his guitar and later volunteered with the VA through Guitars for Vets.  He was quite a wordsmith and was known to “whoop” his family while playing Scrabble or a competitive game of Hand and Foot. 

George has left a lasting imprint of his love of nature, the wonderment found in the little things, his strong work ethic, love of life-long learning and his immense creativity. Some favorite memories from his children include him bringing home refrigerator boxes to make the best forts, teaching Julie how to do military pushups making her the tether ball champ of the neighborhood, learning new dance steps with Mary, surprising them with a built-in swimming pool keeping it a secret until the very day they dug up the back yard, and honing the fine art of thrifting for treasures.  George affectionately referred to his children and their mother as his “Rose Buds”.

George was a much-loved brother to his eight siblings.  He is preceded in death by siblings Rose Smits (nee Ivie) and Francis (Frank) Ivie.  Surviving siblings include William “Bill” Ivie, Dianne “Honey” Beatty, Leon “Butch” Ivie, Roberta “Robbie” Crawley (John), Charlene “Shari” Bauer (Tim) and James (Jimmy) Ivie.  He will be missed greatly by many special nieces and nephews.  Also surviving is George’s beloved mother of his children, Marcille (Marcy) Ivie-Meeuwes, who steadfastly cared for him until his last days. His precious daughters, Kelley (Ivie) McDougall (Robert), Julie Ivie, Mary Ivie-Scoggins and son-in-law Johnny Scoggins, who was much respected and loved by him.  George is also survived by his cherished grandchildren, Ashley McDougall (Jenna), Meg McDougall, Anna (Ivie) Jones (Tony) and his Grandson Bryson (Hayley) who brought him immense pride after graduating from Texas A&M and serves presently in the US Army.  Additionally, George had five great Grandchildren including Ivy, Elijah, Samuel, Mae, and Malcolm.

The family would like to thank the VA, Hillside Community Church, especially Chaplain Roger Bouma, Yorkshire & Stonebridge Manor Assisted Living, Trinity Health, especially his Hospice caregivers including Nurse Jordan and Clinical Social Worker, Susan.  We cannot say enough about the care and love that we all received as a family from Yorkshire & Stonebridge.  His daughters would also like to thank their mother, Marcy Meeuwes-Ivie, for her unwavering strength and Christ-like love in the care of their beloved father.  We will see you again Daddy.

A Celebration of Life is planned for Sunday, September 6, 2026 at Johnson Park in Walker, MI.

A Chili Cookoff is planned in his honor with his famous Walnut Pie and real whipped cream.  He wouldn’t have it any other way!  Memorials in his honor can be sent to K9s for Warriors.

Their website is www.K9sForWarriors.org

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