Funeral services were held Wednesday for a man who owned and operated a floor covering business in Broken Arrow for more than three decades.
Family members said Billy C. “Bill” Ivy passed on April 11 at the age of 89. He was the owner of Ivy’s Floor Covering at 501 N. Aspen Ave. for 35 years and also a charter member of the Broken Arrow Elk’s Lodge, where he was a member for 47 years.
Ivy was born on Aug. 28, 1934 to Curtis James Ivy and Willa Mae (Whitehead) Ivy in Poteau, Okla. Bill’s journey through life was marked by adventure, love, and a deep connection to family and friends, his family said. Bill’s service may be viewed live at https://webcast.funeralvue.com/events/viewer/99853.
Bill’s early life “was a testament to his resilience and resourcefulness,” his family said. After attending Tulsa Central High School, he embarked on a trip to California with friends, only to find himself stranded without funds.
His parents refused to pay for his trip home, and he found work in floor covering to finance his return home. His first job after returning home was the replacement of his mother’s kitchen floor.
This experience ignited a lifelong passion for the trade, culminating in the establishment of Ivy’s Floor Covering alongside his wife, Carolyn Sue, whom he married on February 18, 1955, at Glenwood Baptist Church in Tulsa.
“Bill and Carolyn’s journey together was filled with love, laughter, and shared adventures. From the purchase of their vacation home on Grand Lake to their travels around the world, they cherished every moment spent in each other’s company,” his family said. “Bill’s love for the outdoors was evident in his passion for hunting, fishing, and weekends spent camping by the lake. He was a skilled water skier, relishing the thrill of jumping ramps and maneuvering the boat with finesse.”
Bill was a devoted family man and an active member of the community. He coached his sons’ baseball teams, instilling in them the values of teamwork and determination, says his family.
Bill became a member of the South Grand Lake Christian Church Disciples of Christ. While living in Tulsa he attended Home Gardens Church of Christ.
Bill is preceded in death by his wife, Carolyn in 2021; his infant son, Timmy; his brother, James Ivy; his sister, Patricia “Pat” Nixon; and his daughter-in-law, Linda Ivy. He is survived by his sons: Tommy Ivy of Broken Arrow, Tony Ivy and wife, Gay, and Timmy’s twin, Jimmy Ivy and wife, Kim of Tulsa; sister, Linda Sanders of Tulsa; grandchildren: Candace Brenner and husband, Jason, Nathan Ivy and wife, Natasha, Jesse Thomas and wife, Jessica, Summer McClellan and husband, Brad, and Cord Ivy and wife, Stephanie; and great-grandchildren: Hudson Brenner, Fox Brenner, Ash Snyder, Zeke Thomas, Harper McClellan, Brooks McClellan, Turner McClellan, Kaylee Ivy, Peyton Wolf, Dylan Wolf, Jaxon Wolf, and Brayden Swanson.
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