Robert H. 'Bob' Ivey, 89
Robert H. 'Bob' Ivey, 89
Robert H. “Bob” Ivey, 89, passed away June 9, 2014, at Expressions after a long struggle with Alzheimer’s.
He was born in Kalispell on Feb. 1, 1925, to Walford and Daisy Ivey. He attended Flathead County High School and joined the Army in 1943, serving as a cannoneer stationed in the Philippines and New Guinea. When he returned to the Flathead he met and married his wife of 66 years, Joyce Paullin.
Bob’s careers included working as a grocery box boy, motorcycle delivery service (owner), auto sales, logging, real estate investments and auto body repair. He owned and operated Kalispell Body Shop from 1966 to 1985, when he retired to enjoy his Foys Lake property and packing into the Bob Marshall and Great Bear Wilderness areas.
His hobbies included most everything the Flathead Valley has to offer. Bob was a snow and water skier, a certified scuba diver, snowmobiler, hunter, camper, horseman, and to many, “Cowboy Bob.”
He was a member of the first motorcycle club in Kalispell, Kalispell Parking Commission, Optimist Club, Elks Lodge, Moose Lodge, Veterans of Foreign Wars and Flathead Search and Rescue.
Bob was known for his sense of humor, loving to pull pranks and practical jokes, and always teasing everyone. He always had a smile for everyone he met.
He was preceded in death by his parents and sister, Bernadette.
He is survived by his wife Joyce, daughters Sheryl and Rob Border, Paula and Gary Baldwin and Marsha Shepard, grandchildren Heidi Harmon, Marty and Sean Wheeler, Jasen and Michelle Shepard and Kevin Baldwin, and great-grandchildren Dawson, Jaimi and Chesney, all residing in the Flathead Valley; nieces, Diane, Renee and Janice, residing in the Seattle area; and the Paullin family, brothers-in-law Harold and Beverly, and Howard, nieces and nephews Mark, Patrick, Jeff, Julie, Ross and Dawn Ann, and cousins Bill and Kay.
Bob’s life celebration will be held at 11:30 a.m. Saturday, June 14, at the Moose Lodge, 2158 Highway 2 East, Evergreen.
In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Flathead County Search and Rescue, 525 Three Mile Drive, Kalispell, MT 59901 (www.sar911.com) and click on FLATHEAD); or a charity of your choice.
Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home is caring for Bob’s family. You are invited to go to www.jgfuneralhome.com to offer condolences and view Bob’s tribute wall.