Martin Ives Obituary (1924 - 2021)

Rev. Martin E. Ives, 96, of Tacoma, WA departed to meet his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, May 24, 2021. He died of natural causes. Born Sept 28, 1924, in Seattle, WA, the only child of Harry and Adelaide Ives. He is survived by his six children -- Everett Ives, Charlene Oskamp, Timothy Ives, Philip Ives, Douglas Ives, and Marilyn Fuchs, 16 grandchildren, and 19 great-grandchildren. Martin lived in the Greenlake area of Seattle in his toddler years before his family moved to Everett and then to Mukilteo. He graduated from Everett High School, and attended the University of Washington, graduating in 1945 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Electrical Engineering. Upon graduation he attended the USN Midshipman School Notre Dame in South Bend Indiana. He served as a commissioned line officer assigned to Treasure Island, CA and subsequently Pearl Harbor Naval Bases. Upon discharge he accepted a job offer with General Electric in Schenectady, NY and moved east. During his two years of electrical engineering work at GE he considered going to seminary, subsequently leaving his job for the seminary and graduating in 1953 with a Bachelor of Divinity Degree from Fuller Theological Seminary in CA. He was ordained by the Champlain Presbytery, Presbyterian Church, USA in 1954 as a Presbyterian minister. Martin met his wife Lois Brown (1928-1989) in December 1947 at Morningside Baptist Church in Pittsfield, MA. They married in 1953 and settled in Heuvelton, NY. Reverend Martin Ives pastored in Heuvelton and Flackville, NY 1954-1958, Wampsville and Whitelaw, NY 1958-1964, First Presbyterian Church Tacoma, WA 1964-1986 Associate Pastor Emeritus, Church of the Indian Fellowship Tacoma, WA 1991-2001. He also supported the Alder, WA Presbyterian Church. Martin retired from the US Naval Reserves as Chaplain Commander in 1984. Throughout his adult life Martin was very involved with his family's activities as well as backpacking, kayaking, Bible study, and writing. He has authored several books emphasizing the life changing impact of the love of God demonstrated through Jesus Christ as revealed throughout the Bible. Martin considered himself a maverick and catalyst. He loved people, was positive and encouraging, enjoyed God's creation, gave thanks for God's provision, was creative, playful, witty, energetic, and a connoisseur of ice cream. He will be remembered as a diligent and faithful servant of the Lord, loving husband and father, and as a thoughtful and encouraging grandparent. Memorial Service 1:00 PM June 26 at First Presbyterian Church, Tacoma. In lieu of flowers memorial gifts may be provided to Wycliffe Bible Translators 1-800-992-5433, or Camp McCullough C/O First Presbyterian Church, 20 Tacoma Ave S, Tacoma, WA 98402.