Faith M. Ivie

Faith Ivie, 76, died of complications from COPD and vascular dementia at Glenwood Senior Living in Vancouver, Wash. She died peacefully on Feb. 24, 2021.

Faith was born in Belfast, Ireland, on Nov. 14, 1944. She moved from Ireland with her parents and two brothers in 1946 to Canada. After a couple of years in Canada they settled in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. She grew up in the house across the street from Central Grade School, which she would later attend, and graduated from Coeur d’Alene High School. She spent her Sundays attending the church services performed by her mother, Rev. Victoria Carbury. Her father, Edward V. Carbury, was an accountant and retired Army captain.

One of her first jobs was working at the Paul Bunyan restaurant in Coeur d’Alene. She worked there during her first year in college, which is when she met her future husband. While attending a New Year’s party at her friend’s home (her future husband’s cousin) she met Robert Ivie while he was passing through town and stopped in for a quick visit with his cousin. That first meeting led to a proposal a few months later, and 35 wonderful years of marriage before Robert passed away in the year 2000.

They married on Sept. 11, 1965, in Coeur d’Alene, where Faith took on the role of housewife and mother to Bob’s two children, who were ages 8 and 11. They lived in several different towns for the next nine years while Robert worked in the construction industry across the state, eventually ending up in Vancouver in 1974.

After their youngest child moved away to college in California, Faith studied and trained in tax preparation. Not long after that she took a job working in the office of Dee Lee Homes, Inc. for Everette Johnson. Over the years, Faith’s knowledge of construction and the homebuilding business grew, so she and Everette became business partners doing the work they loved during the housing boom. After Everette retired, Faith went to work as the general manager for Morris Bush, owner of Taseca Homes, Inc.

Faith worked for more than 30 years in the homebuilding business in Clark County, Vancouver, and made many lasting and deep friendships throughout those years. She won some distinguished awards during her career, one was as the top recruiter for the Building Industry Association (BIA). Faith became so well known and active within the industry over the years that some referred to her as Clark County BIA’s “Godmother.”

Faith was an artist and loved ceramics, of which she won many top awards as a Professional Master Painter. During her marriage, she and Robert enjoyed many activities. They joined a square dancing club, became proficient at archery, rode motorcycles in their free time, spent a couple of summers scuba diving whenever they could and occasionally hit the slopes to downhill ski on Mt. Hood. They enjoyed camping with friends and family at Lake Billie Chinook (Cove Palisades, Ore.) during the summers and traveling to Canada to visit Robert’s mother, sister and brother-in-law and their family and Faith’s family in Coeur d’Alene. She loved tending to the landscaping in her yard and preparing meals and entertaining for large gatherings of friends and family.

Survivors include step-son, Robert Ivie, Jr. of Pollock Pines, Calif.; her step-daughter, Kristan Ivie of Vancouver; her younger brother, Bill Carbury and his wife, Nancy Carbury of Coeur d’Alene; as well as four grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren, and her beloved pet dog, Daisy.

After her husband of 35 years died in 2000, Faith spent the next few years with her special companion, Marvin Mackey, and they enjoyed their love of ceramics, animals and learning more about each of their family’s ancestry. Sadly, Marvin passed away in 2009.

Faith was preceded in death by her parents, Edward V. and Rev. Victoria Carbury, and her older brother, John, who died in 2005 at the age of 71.

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, there will be no memorial service, though a celebration of life may be announced and held at a later date. Faith will be buried at Willamette National Cemetery in Happy Valley, Ore., where her husband’s ashes are interred.