Our Mom, Autumn Lou Ivey, has always known where she was headed when her time on earth was done as it is the home of angels. She simply asked for nothing yet gave everything to those around her all her life. She was the definition of a strong woman with the kindest of hearts.
We are certain she was welcomed with “welcome home my good and faithful servant” as she has been an angel on earth to so many hospice and home health nursing patients of her own. She was always a kind and loving friend to anyone she ever met. Her beautiful and loving smile would captivate a person upon impact, and her loving chocolate brown eyes would warm their hearts instantaneously.
As she wiped the tears from our cheeks as she began her hospice journey, once again our Mom elicited her indelible selfless and compassionate care, the same care for others she has shown all our lives.
May 24, 2024, Autumn Lou Ivey, 80, transcended and embarked on her heavenly journey home to God as “The Old Rugged Cross” played softly in the background as we looked back at their wedding photos. A journey she prayed for as she was surrounded by her loving family.
April 28, 1944, she came into this world to her mother Dorothy Josephine Dobson and her father Elmer Dobson in Coldwater, Michigan. They would go on to be called “Grandma & Grandpa D” by her children Heather (Ivey) Lalor, Charity (Ivey) Taylor and Christoper Michael Ivey.
She grew up in the Hilltop House and would raise animals and show horses including her first horse Honey Girl, and she helped her father on the farm and became a woman who could fix darn near anything.
After graduating from Quincy High School, Mom went on to study nursing at Jackson Community College and Michigan State University. She was a die hard, bleed green kind of Spartan who enjoyed watching Bubba Smith play football back in the day. Watching her competitive spirit during Spartan basketball or football games, as well as Coldwater Cardinals football games when Dad coached or Stillman Valley football games where her son in law coaches’ football, was always an entertaining event in and of itself. She let us attend the games as kids, but we had to sit in the stands not run all over. She was a woman of discipline.
In the summer of 1964, she met a special man, Reggie Ivey when he was working as a marine patrol officer for the local Sheriff’s Department. They dated the following summer, and it did not take him long to realize he should put a ring on her finger before she returned to Michigan State University in the fall. After 3 months of dating, he did just that! That was a smart move as she was a stunning nursing student. She often remarked she also studied under NFL coach and sports commentator Tony Dungy’s father Wilbur Dungy at Jackson Community College.
Autumn and Reggie experienced almost 58 years of marriage after they wed June 18, 1966, when she married the love of her life, and often said he was her right-hand man. 57 years. 11 months and 24 days to be exact. One of the best weekends of their life together was spent at the 2015 Kentucky Derby when American Pharoah won the race. She talked of it often, even in the last weeks of her life.
Autumn went on to be a caring and wonderful nurse to anyone and everyone in need. She served as an RN OBGYN OCN NP Hospice nurse with Branch County Home Health. She refused to shorten family nursing visits when asked by corporate America, as she felt it was truly meant to be home health care, not home health business. She always stood up for what she believed in and knew the importance of knowing the difference between right and wrong, that is how she was raised.
Her seamstress abilities were remarkable, and she would sew her kids’ clothing for years as they did not have much in their early years together.
Our Mom Autumn was a lover of the simple things in life, and she also taught us about what is important in life. She taught us “it’s not about the stuff, it’s about the time.” Time with faith. Time with family. Time with friends. Time with activities. Time is the one thing you cannot get back; nor get more of.
She was selfless and always put the needs of others above herself. A philanthropic heart was at the core of her spirit. She never wanted to be a bother or a burden on those she loved. She never was, she was an absolute treasure and a role model as to how we should live our own lives.
She loved her grandkids implicitly; and said, “your kids have always made me feel special,” and special she truly was to all who knew her. She loved playing games and cards with them, and reading and quizzing them with math problems as she understood the importance of education. Brushing their long hair was cherished grandkid time she always looked forward to. If there were babies nearby, she would often be called the baby hog as she loved cuddling them as long as she could.
Mom would say she was never there for the main course. She was there for the dessert. She was a lover of homemade tapioca, rice Krispie treats and ice cream. And, often a campfire smores fan as well.
Thus, she was often the sought-out source of approval when her grandkids would want dessert for breakfast. “Grandma, can we have pie for breakfast?” Grandma would reply, “Sure, that would be fine” or “if you can find it, you can have it.” Grandma’s rules reigned supreme.
Devout in her faith she always remained. Even the pastor who visited her while on hospice care was enlightened. He came and she began delivering a faith filled montage to him and he replied, “I came to preach to you, but I think you’re preaching to me.”
She was a coffee lover, especially a good cup on the front porch with her flowers in bloom. When asked if she would like a cup, she would say, “Maybe just a swig” with a wink and a smile. She was a saver, a darn good penny pincher.
Mom was also a horse lover who loved helping her children show horses at the 4-H Fairs and Quarter Horse Futurities. An annual trip she would look forward to, was the Quarter Horse Congress. She may have been known to bring horses home without any consultation with Dad. He would just add another line item to the budget, as he was not going to tell her no.
Mom was a wonderful daughter who cared for her mother all her life including her passing days. She was a daughter her father was incredibly proud of, and was a remarkable wife, mother, grandmother, and mother-in-law to her family.
After multiple spinal surgeries, Mom’s stature did not allow her to look up as much, so she looked down and collected stones for years. What we have learned is that Mom often saw beauty in things like beautiful stones that most people likely take for granted because they’re looking up.
Our world was a better place simply because our Mom was in it, and the void she leaves behind is overwhelmingly large.
Autumn Lou Ivey was preceded in death by her mother and father and is survived by her loving husband and caregiver Reggie Ivey and her loving sister Mary Dawn Dobson. Her children left to carry on her legacy are Heather (Michael) Ivey Lalor, Charity (Dan) Taylor, and Christoper (Nikki) Ivey. She leaves behind to do good in the world as she did, the lights of her life her grandchildren, Logan & Olivia Lalor, Autumn and Aspen Taylor, Titan Ivey, McKlay & Treyson. Sister and brother in laws, Pauletta (Sam) Teachout, niece Janet (Marty) Landis and their children; nephew Brian (Heather) Barnes and their children.
She was loved so deeply and compassionately by special family members Kerri (Craig) Wastell, Christian and Carsen Wastell, nieces Abi & Brittany Dobson and their children Kamden, Grayson, and Nolan. And, so many great lifetime friends who touched and impacted her life and supported them as Dad cared for her.
We simply cannot thank our team at Hillsdale Hospice for showing her such love, compassion, and kindness as they cared for her and became an instantaneous part of our family. Please know your work is so valued and appreciated by all of us, and Mom loved how you would breeze in so quietly, take care of things and then softly depart.
In honor of her wishes, there will only be a private gathering at the Ivey home celebrating her life with family and friends at a date to be determined.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her name to the Southern Michigan Food Pantry, the Humane Society of Branch County, or Hospice of Hillsdale County.
In her loving memory, please try to make the world kinder and more compassionate wherever you go. And encourage a world with more peace where what is celebrated are things of true value in faith, family, character, compassion, and integrity.
And please always remember that what truly matters is time and not stuff.
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