(originally written in 1998)

The children of Mildred Ives are writing with sadness to let you know of the death of Mother on June 12, 1998. She had managed to maintain her independent living style at Spring Valley Assisted Living Apartments until recently when she was hospitalized. This time she was not able to regain her strength. We were able to get her back to her apartment home where she spent her last days and passed away peacefully.

We are including in this letter a biographical outline of some of the highlights in her life, which Sally had prepared to introduce her to Spring Valley when she moved there three or four years ago. We thought you might enjoy reading it.

MILDRED IVES

Mildred was born Mildred Taylor on May 18, 1910, in Idaho. She spent much of her youth in Iowa where she graduated as valedictorian of her senior class in Wall Lake. While in high school she helped out at her parents’ soda fountain and was a baby sitter for the Williams brothers, the youngest of whom was Andy Williams whom we all know for his music.

After high school she earned a teaching certificate and taught elementary school for several years in Rolfe, Iowa, where she met her future husband, Arlo Ives. They were married at her parents’ home in Portland, Oregon, in 1936. They returned to Rolfe where she spent most of her adult life as a farm wife, mother of three and homemaker. She was active in 4-H, Farm Bureau, the Presbyterian Women’s Organization and the P.E.O. Sisterhood.

Widowed in 1974, she lived several years in Lake Havasu City, Arizona and Lake San Marcos, California. During this stage of her life she traveled extensively, including trips to Europe, Russia, Africa, and the Orient, and enjoyed activities such as a ride on a hot air balloon to celebrate her 79th birthday.

She moved to Eugene, Oregon in 1993 to be closer to her daughter, Sally. Here she enjoyed visits from friends and relatives, and trips to the Oregon mountains and coast. Always an avid bridge player, she could still be enticed into a game, or found reading a good book, or knitting a baby sweater for the hospital auxiliary.

Survivors include her daughters, Carolyn Ives of Dallas, Texas and Sally Quigley of Eugene, Oregon; her son, Dallas Ives of Houston, Texas; three grandsons; and her sisters Bonnie Starbuck of Jacksonville, Florida and Zoe Mary Phillips of Mission Viejo, California.

A memorial service was held in Rolfe, Iowa on July 16, 1998 at the Shared Ministry in the Methodist Church building. In lieu of flowers, we ask that donations in her memory be made to: Pocahontas Hospice, 606 NW 7th, Pocahontas, IA 50574

Carolyn, Sally, Dallas