Mary E. Ivey

Mary E. Ivey, of Decaturville, Tennessee, passed away unexpectedly on Tuesday, March 3, 2026.

Born in the Mississippi Delta and raised in Shaw, Mississippi, Mary carried her Southern roots and deep love of family with her throughout her life. She attended Saint Joseph School of Nursing, where she earned her Registered Nursing degree. After dedicating several years to raising her three daughters and caring for her family, Mary returned to her profession and built a successful career in the nursing home industry. Through hard work, compassion, and determination, she rose to the position of Vice President of Operations before retiring in 2005.

In retirement, Mary embraced life fully. She traveled to more than 30 countries with close friends and especially treasured the annual Christmas trips she hosted for her children for the past 23 years — a tradition that created lasting memories and reflected her deep devotion to family.

Mary was a faithful member of St. Regina Catholic Church. She also served on several boards, including Tennessee Healthcare Association and Decatur County Hospital, generously giving her time, leadership, and heart to the causes she cared about most.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Jerry Lynn Ivey; her parents, Amerina and Louis Rossetti; and her stepson, Chris Ivey.

Mary is survived by her loving daughters, Gina (Chip) Maiden, Lisa (Mark) Davis, and Tracey (Mitch B.) Smith; her stepdaughter, Jennifer Thaxton; and her sister, Emma Jean Waldrop.

She is also survived by her cherished grandchildren, who were truly the light of her life: Jim (Andrea) Davis, Ryan Davis, Leslie (Doug) Hall, Jared (Audrey) Davis, Laken Lomax, Sarah Maiden, Gracie (Nick C.) Maiden, Sydney (Justin) Hickman, and Cody (Danielle) Beatus; as well as eleven great-grandchildren.

Mary will be remembered for her strength, grace, compassion, and unwavering devotion to her family. She was a steady and loving presence in the lives of all who knew her, and her legacy of faith, service, and love will continue through the generations she so deeply treasured.

Family and friends will be received at St. Regina Catholic Church in Parsons on Saturday, March 7th from 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m., followed by a private family Mass.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or to St. Regina Catholic Church in honor of Mary Ivey.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Mary E. Ivey, please visit our floral store.