Arthur James Ivey

Arthur James Ivey was born in Lief Springs, Tennessee on June 11, 1933 to Robert and Leona Ivey. He was the tenth child of eleven children. He spent his early childhood in Blaine and Knoxville, Tennessee. He did one year of his early childhood education at the one room schoolhouse in Blaine because there were not enough students enrolled for the school to be recognized as a qualified school. His family left Knoxville while he was still young and moved to New York City, settling in Brooklyn.

He graduated from Boys High School in Brooklyn and was an active member of their track and field team as well as an active gymnast. After high school he attended City College of New York and graduated with a degree in Electrical Engineering. He was the first black electrical engineer in the City of New York. He served in the U.S. Army from November 1957 to October 1963. He was a member of the elite airborne unit, Screaming Eagles, and received an honorable discharge. After the army he enjoyed a career using his knowledge of electricity to design lighting for synagogues, churches, stores and bars throughout the metropolitan area.

He married Ruth Marie Saunders in October 1969 and from this union one son, Jose, was born. He is survived by his wife, Ruth, his son, Jose, a daughter Sonjii b Ivey through an earlier relationship, and one sister, Wilma Ivey Kidd. He leaves to cherish his memory special nephew Dennis James, a host of nieces and nephews and friends.

His hobbies were birdwatching, woodworking and fishing and he rarely lost a fish that got on his line.

Memorial donations may be made in Art's name to Shriner's Children's