Stephen Bennett (Ben) Ivey Obituary (1943 - 2017)

Ben died on May 21, 2017, after a long battle with Alzheimer's Disease. He was born July 7, 1943 in Butte, Montana, the only child of Bennett and Sophie Ivey. A talented musician, he played piano, accordion, trombone, drums and string bass. He joined the Musician's Union at 15, playing four of those instruments professionally. He graduated from Cincinnati Conservatory of Music with a Bachelor's Degree in Trombone and a Master's Degree in Musicology. He was a member of Pi Kappa Lambda. He met Kathleen Hale there, and they married in 1965. During his early years, he played trombone with the Inkspots, the bands of Warren Covington, Ralph Marterie, and Buddy Morrow and subbed with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. He was a member of the US Army Field Band at Fort Meade, MD for more than three years. As the traveling ambassadors for the Army, they visited every town of any size in the contiguous United States and Alaska during his enlistment. In 1969 he moved to Utah as Principal Trombonist with the Utah Symphony and Adjunct Professor in the University of Utah Music Department. While there he served as Chair of the brass, wind and percussion area and chaired the scholarship committee for the music department. He was founder/director of the Western Trombone Conference from 1976 to 1979 and founded the University Of Utah Faculty Ensemble and the Faculty Brass Quintet. He was a member of the American Federation of Musicians for 36 years and served on the Board of Directors of Local #104 for many years, including a stint as Vice President. He chaired the Utah State Fair Music Competition for 5 years. In 1981, after 23 years as a professional musician, he retired from the Utah Symphony. He began working the next day with A. G. Edwards as an investment broker and continued that career, including four years as manager, until retiring nearly 24 years later. A strong believer in community service, he worked with and was Chairman of the Board of Valley Mental Health, served on the Board of Directors of Granite Mental Health and the Tri-Center Advisory Board, served on the Board of Directors and chaired the Mental Health Association of Utah. He was a proud member of the Salt Lake Exchange Club, twice serving as President, twice receiving the Grant McFarlane Award, and recognized as Exchangeite of the Year. He served with and acted as Chair of Community Health Charities for many years. He helped coordinate seven different organizations to build a new playground for Dilworth Elementary School. He was active at Christ Methodist Church, serving in the positions of President of Methodist Men, Lay Leader, Chairman of the Staff/Parish Relations Committee, Chairman of the Finance Committee and for eight years on the Board of Pensions for the Rocky Mountain Conference and four years on the Pensions Health Insurance Subcommittee. He was proud of his children's accomplishments in school, Scouts, the Wesley Bell Ringers, and as adults in the Army and as engineers and actors. Ben enjoyed doing yard work and was a great handyman, utilizing his skills over many years of home ownership. He liked to hike and learned to enjoy backpacking (or at least the bragging rights after encountering steep ascents, floods, and bears). He enjoyed traveling, which he and Kathleen did a lot of, especially in the first few years after his diagnosis. Ben was preceded in death by his mother and father; granddaughters, Hannah and Jessica Mains. He is survived by his wife, Kathleen; daughter, Deanna (Ben) Mains; son, Stephen (Shannon) Ivey; and grandchildren, Noah and Abby Mains and Isaac, Calvin, and Megan Ivey. Ben wrote these words a few years ago: "Loves his wife. Loves his kids. Loves his cat and dog. All-around great guy!" Alzheimer's is a nasty disease. Our lives are the sum total of our memories. This disease gradually takes away one's memories, as well as one's ability to function. Fight for more research so we can find a cure. We, his family and friends, have been missing the man we used to know for many years. We will continue to miss him and to remember for him. A Memorial Service will be held on Monday, July 17, 2017 at 11:00 a.m. at Christ United Methodist Church, 2375 East 3300 South. The family suggests donations to the Alzheimer's Association, Community Health Charities, or the Wesley Bell Ringers at Christ United Methodist Church. Funeral Home: Jenkins-Soffe Mortuary-Murray 4760 South State Street Murray, UT 84107