Juanita Laverne Ivie

Juanita Laverne (Nita) Ivie spent 88 years loving God and loving others before she went home to be with Jesus on April 29, 2025. She is survived by her husband Jerry Ivie, son Randy (Nina) Ivie, daughter Cindy (Ricky) Robinson, grandchildren English (Stephen) King, Amber (Steve) Davis, Preston (Ashley) Ivie, Jennifer (Brent) Chapman, and Sean (Fabi) Harris, and great-grandchildren Emery, Ensley and Ellery King, Fordham and Baker Davis, Landry, Connelly and Monroe Ivie, Lincoln and Charlotte Chapman, and Olivia Harris. Nita also leaves behind her brother Hershal Carlson, and her cousin Yvonne Luckey.
Born in Austin, Texas on December 18, 1936, to Hjalmar and Edna Carlson, Nita grew up at Hyde Park Baptist Church. She studied piano for many years and was an accomplished musician and an excellent student. Following her graduation from high school, she earned an associate's degree from Nixon-Clay Business College in Austin.
Nita married Jerry Ivie in August of 1955 and together they embarked on a journey of love and ministry that lasted nearly 70 years. They soon added two children to their family–Randy in 1957 and Cindy in 1959–and Nita was fully devoted to her husband, her children, and her local church. For more than 60 years, Nita was part of a church staff. During the 1960s and 1970s, she was often the only staff member other than the pastor. She served as church pianist, produced newsletters and bulletins, kept contribution records, typed sermon notes, and occasionally vacuumed the floors and emptied the trash–all with a gracious attitude and a resolute dedication to excellence.
Following the family's return to Houston after seven years in northeast Ohio, Nita went to work for Houston's First Baptist Church in 1978. She spent the next 20 years as Publications Editor; writing copy and typing the church newsletter and weekly worship bulletins, as well as all the printed flyers and other publications produced by the Church. During those years, she worked side by side with Eric Peterson, who became a lifelong friend and faithful helper and remains a part of the family. Following her retirement from paid employment, she served as a volunteer in Corner Books for many years, sharing encouragement and love as much as books and coffee.
Nita passed her love of music and her passion for excellence down to her children and grandchildren, offering them unwavering support in their various pursuits. She celebrated their achievements, big and small, and instilled in them the value of hard work and dedication.
Like generations of women before and after her, Nita avoided the spotlight but worked quietly and diligently behind the scenes; teaching, encouraging, mentoring and loving well while living a life of service to God, to His Church, and especially to her family and friends.
A Celebration of Life service will be held on Wednesday, May 21st at 2 pm in the Chapel of Houston's First Baptist Church, with a reception to follow in the Fellowship Center. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Nita's memory to the General Missions Fund at HFBC, 7401 Katy Freeway, Houston Texas 77024.