Minnie Edith Jones Ivie

Edith J. Ivie, 93, died of natural causes on May 25. She was a teacher and author who devoted her life to education and social justice. Achieving remarkable heights for a woman of her generation, Ivie earned a Master’s degree in Spanish from Duke University in 1951, did doctoral work at the University of Kansas, and studied abroad at the University of Mexico during World War II. She taught English and Spanish in high schools and colleges across the United States, including North Central College and Moraine Valley Community College in the Chicago area. A lifelong Protestant, Ivie used the church as a base for her activism. She served as Director of Christian Education at the First Christian Church in Oklahoma City, taught English to Hispanic immigrants at the Joliet UCC Church, and was a dedicated member of St. John’s UCC Church in Mokena, Illinois, for the last 31 years. Ever committed to a life of the mind, Ivie was an active participant in local book groups and creative writing groups right up until the end, and she even published a book of her own at the age of 85. Through the Eyes of Joanna (2010) is a work of historical fiction that tells the story of an obscure woman who was mentioned in the Bible only three times, but who made the extraordinary decision to give up her life of privilege to follow Jesus.

Minnie Edith Jones was born on September 26, 1924 in Denison, Texas to Wallace Jones, a minister and Lorena Stuart Jones, a teacher. She married William K Ivie (d. 1984), a professor of romance languages, on September 12, 1946. Together, the couple lived and taught all over the country from Texas to North Carolina, Oklahoma to Illinois. Edith is survived by her daughter, Sharon Varel; her son-in-law, Dennis Varel; and her two grandsons, Steven Varel and David Varel. Her family, like most everyone who met her, was perpetually moved by her kindness and generosity of spirit. She will be missed.

Funeral service to be held at St. John UCC Church, Mokena, IL on Monday, 6/4/18 with visitation at 10:00 AM, service at 11:00 AM, and luncheon to follow.

Donations to Joliet Hospice or St. John’s UCC in lieu of flowers.