Robert Earl "Bob" Ivory

1938 - 2016

Ivory, Robert "Bob" Earl
77, of Fountain Green, Utah. Grandpa: The Man, The Myth, The Legend. Robert Earl (Bob) Ivory was a self-made man, a fearless entrepreneur, a collector of life experiences, and an idol to his 9 grandchildren. He left us on April 7, 2016 after a long, and hard-fought battle with brain cancer. His unpredictable life began in Fountain Green, Utah as the son of a turkey farmer, continued in the South Pacific as a sailor in the Navy, and grew to include a family and businesses in Tempe, Arizona. In the early eighties he returned to Utah, first to expand his business in Park City, and then to live out his remaining days in Fountain Green - the place he always called home. Bob was a carwash entrepreneur and visionary, and single-handedly built his Buggy Bath carwash empire to include locations in Tempe, Mesa and Scottsdale, Arizona, as well as Park City and Sandy, Utah. He was proud of all that he built and the many opportunities it afforded his family. He was equally proud of his time in the Navy, during which he served on the USS Boxer in the South Pacific. He was designated an Atomic Bomb Veteran and recognized for his courageous service as part of the Pacific Fleet Atomic Weapons Testing Task Group. He lived out his final year among other proud veterans at the Central Utah Veterans Home, a wonderful place that treats our American heroes with great dignity in the final years of their lives. Bob was an adventurous traveler, a pilot, a fisherman, a hunter, and a great chef. He rode camels in Egypt, sailed around Cape Horn and through the Panama Canal, caught salmon in Oregon, hunted bears in Canada, wore a rasta wig in Jamaica, and bargained for blankets in Guatemala and rugs in Turkey. He was also a barbecue master, winning multiple contests for his famous ribs and pulled pork, and passed along a passion for barbecue to his children and grandchildren. He was challenged in life by an alcohol addiction, but his characteristic strength helped him overcome his addiction and remain sober for over 35 years. He recently received his 35-year sobriety coin from AA and spent all of those years as a dedicated AA sponsor committed to helping others suffering from addiction. Bob is preceded in death by his parents, Earl and Roma Ivory, of Fountain Green, Utah; his daughter, Janet Ivory, of Salt Lake City, Utah; and Sam, Rosie and Rudy, the beloved dogs who were always by his side. He is survived in death by his 3 children, Teresa Ivory Briggs of San Mateo, California, Kenneth Robert Ivory of West Jordan, Utah, and Roxanne Ivory of San Mateo, California; his 9 grandchildren; and his siblings, Leola Mikkleson of Woods Cross, Utah, and Ronald Ivory of Fountain Green, Utah. His favorite t-shirt read "Of course I'm right, I'm Bob." and his favorite song was "My Way" by Frank Sinatra - both of which sum up the man who lived by his own rules and inspired everyone around him. A graveside service will be held at the Fountain Green cemetery on Saturday, April 23rd at 5:00pm. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Central Utah Veterans Home, 1551 N. Main St., Payson, UT 84651. Questions may be directed to Rasmussen Mortuary 435-462-2427 www.rasmussenmortuary.com