Ivalee Mae Sinclair

Born June 1, 1928 in Cottonwood Falls, Kansas to Laurence and Zella Haus, she moved to O'ahu with her parents and sister, Beryl, as a teen, later attending the University of Hawaii where she met and married Dr. David Sinclair in 1947. They began their family in San Francisco as he was attending medical school, and then returned to the islands where together they raised six children and celebrated over fifty-five years of marriage prior to his passing in 2003.

A passionate advocate for children and adults with learning disabilities, Ivalee worked with the Hawaii Association for Adults and Children with Learning Disabilities, the United Way, the Hawaii Department of Health and later as a private consultant, touching countless lives. In 2008, she was honored as Hawaii’s nominee for the esteemed Jefferson Award for her life’s work.

Her positivity, strong will, and wonderful laughter will be missed by her children, David (Cherie), Margaret Peterson (Jon), Ruth, Karl (Julie), Brian (Dawn Yoshimura), and Kathy McClatchy (John+), hanai daughter, Rebekah Luke (Pete Krape), and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

A celebration of her life will be held on November 24, 2025 at 10am at the Atherton Chapel of Central Union Church. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Aloha United Way.