Irby Mandrell Obituary

MANDRELL, Irby Matthew Age 84 passed to his heavenly home, March 5, 2009, after a short stay at Baptist Hospital for respiratory distress and emphysema. He is survived by his wife, Mary, of 61 years; his three daughters, Barbara, Louise and Irlene; and seven grandchildren. His musical career spanned more that 60 years as he managed the careers of Barbara, Louise and Irlene. He was born in Hot Springs, Arkansas and played guitar and sang from a very early age. His musical travels took him to Fairfield, Illinois, where he played at a church and met the niece of the pastor of the church, and fell in love with her. They moved to Texas where he became a policeman, and his three daughters were born. Then they moved to California and he opened a music store with a partner, Bill Hendricks. His daughters were exposed to music at an early age and had instruments available to them, as they became proficient on many of them. Then they moved to Tennessee where his career as a manager really took off as he was very successful in directing the careers of his very talented daughters. He is preceded in death by his two brothers and one sister. He served bravely in the U.S. Navy during WWII as a corpsman and later entertained for the military all over the United States and 21 foreign countries. His love of country music and the legions of fans he came in contact with was ever apparent. A Celebration of Life Service will be held 3 p.m. Sunday, March 8th at the Forest Lawn Funeral Home chapel with Ron Cook, Pastor Paul Bane and family members officiating. Interment will follow at the Forest Lawn Memorial Gardens on Monday. Serving as pallbearers will be Barbara Mandrell Dudney, Louise Mandrell Haywood, Irlene Mandrell, Matthew Dudney, Nicole Shipley and Deric Boyer. Greeters will be Jim Brady, Ken Dudney, Jaime Dudney, Nathan Dudney, Vanessa Boyer, Christina Pincus, Christy Sutherland Dudney and Hannah Menefee. Family will receive friends Saturday, March 7th from 4 - 6 p.m. at Forest Lawn and 2 - 3 p.m. Sunday. FOREST LAWN FUNERAL HOME, (615)859-5279.

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Published by The Tennessean from Mar. 7 to Mar. 8, 2009.

Memories and Condolences
for Irby Mandrell

5 Entries

Sherry L Barr

January 2, 2024

RIP. I'm a fan of Barbara mandrell.I can see how much she loved her daddy.

David Mathews

November 1, 2023

I didn't know him. I only know of him. His remarkable life, amazing musical talent, and beautiful family. I am one of those fans he was always making happy. All men should aspire to his talent, commitment, and faith. He changed the course of the planet. Thank you, Mr. Mandrell.

Jan Otteson Manning

March 1, 2022

In the late `70s I worked the front desk at Music City News, and Irby and Mary maintained an office right down the hall. Irby would often stop in and chat. I bought a moped and started it riding to and from work. Irby came in very concerned one day because it was raining, and he thought I was going to get hurt. He told me how he used to be a motorcycle cop in California, and they would always get their bikes off the street when it started to rain, due to the risk of skidding. He was truly concerned for me, and it made such an impression on me that I remember and heed his words of wisdom to this day.

Doug McGill

December 18, 2020

In loving memory of a wonderful Uncle. I will love you and miss you always.
The last time I saw you was in the Hospital in Hendersonville. You always welcomed Me into your Heart, into your Home. I remembered you were so happy in the hospital room. I see, you never forget your relatives when you saw Me after all these years. I never forget Family, and You will always be missed Uncle Irby...

Jan Otteson

September 11, 2020

I met Irby and Mary in the 1970s when I was working at Music City News and their office was right down the hall in the Faron Young Building on Division Street. I started riding a moped to and from work, and he was concerned about me riding in the rain on wet streets. He told me about being a motorcycle cop and how they would put away their motorcycles as soon as it started to rain. He showed a fatherly concern for me that touched me deeply. Plain spoken but honest. A good man.

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