He was born near Silerton, TN, the son of the late Will and Lettie Patterson Ivy. He attended schools in Hardeman County and farmed as a young man. He was married to Wilma Holder in 1952. He was employed by Chickasaw State Park in 1949 and worked until he retired in 1982. Mrs. Ivy died in January 1990. Mr. Ivy was a avid coon hunter and was a Baptist.
He is survived by two sons Burl Ivy and Bobby Ivy (Paula) all of Henderson; five grandchildren Leticia Weaver, Tommy Ivy, Tabithia Maness, Jeannetta Ivy and John Nelson Ivy; eight great grandchildren Zack Weaver, David Micheal Weaver, Cameron Weaver, Robert Lynn Maness, III, Kelsey Ivy, Ashley Vinson, Robert Foust and Chyenne Vinson; two sisters Carriese Tucker and Ermer Hurst McNeal both of Henderson; a special friend Mandy Baker.
He was preceded in death by his wife Wilma Holder Ivy in 1990.