Ivy was a graduate of the University of Mississippi. He was the former Executive Director of Community and Economic Development in Holly Springs, MS; he was the Director of Economic Development for the City of Memphis and Shelby County Governments; he was Community Development and Projector Director, SunBay Resort in Hot Springs, AR; he was Community Development Coordinator for the Missisippi Band of the Choctaw Indians, Choctaw, MS, and from 2007 until his retirement in October 2019, he was Executive Director of the Fort Chaffee Redevelopment Authority.
He was a member of the World Trade Center Organization, United Indian Development Authority, Board member of Fort Smith Symphony, Board member of Fort Smith Regional Transportation Authority, Member of University of Arkansas Fort Smith Dean’s Advisory Board, Member of Fort Smith Trolley Museum Board of Directors, Member of Fort Smith Innovation and Entrepreneurial Center Board of Directors, and a member of Arkansas Economic Developers Board of Directors.
He is survived by his wife, Barbara; two sons, Michael Owen and his wife Angie, of Texarkana, AR, Steve Owen and his wife Tina of New Albany, MS; and four grandchildren.
Public viewing will be Monday, June 8, 2020, from 9 AM – 7 PM, at Edwards Funeral Home. The family will receive friends from 5 – 7 PM.
Services and burial with be in Hattiesburg, MS under the direction of Hulett-Winstead Funeral Home. Memorials may be sent to The Wounded Warriors Project or to St. Jude Children’s Hospital.
