William Ivy

Funeral: 2 PM, Sunday at Hawkins Funeral Chapel with burial in East Bridgeport Cemetery. Family will receive friends 4-6 PM, Saturday at the funeral home.

William "Red" Ivy, Jr. was born on March 18, 1924 to William and Ola (Wimberly) Ivy in Fairfield, Texas. Red grew up working on the family farm where they grew vegetables and cotton. In 1943, Red, at the age of 19, left the farm and moved to Houston where he worked in a shipyard. In 1944 he joined the Army and was part of the armored division (tank driver) stationed in Italy during World War II.

In 1949, Red went on a blind date with June Starnes while working as a roughneck in Tyler. He married her May 24, 1950 there in Tyler. She preceded him in death after 56 years of marriage.

Red traveled through much of North and West Texas working in the oil field before settling down in Bridgeport in 1983. He retired from Mitchell Energy in 1986.

Red loved to hunt, fish and garden. He also loved to spend time with his family.

He was also preceded in death by his daughter, Linda Kay Ivy; his granddaughter, Misty Richey; 2 sisters: Rebecca Lee and Debbie Whatley; and his brother, J.W. Ivy.

Those left behind to cherish his memory are his son, James William Ivy and wife Jeanne of Montville, New Jersey; his daughters, Peggy Richey and husband Clifford Richey of Liberty, Texas, Betty Barnett and husband John of Decatur, Texas; his brother, Raymond Ivy of Fairfield, Texas; his sister, Barbara Ann Dodd of Fairfield, Texas; 12 grandchildren; 9 great-grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews; other relatives and a host of friends.

Hawkins Funeral Home, Bridgeport, Texas, 940-683-2211