Owen A. Ivey

CSM Owen A. Ivey (RET), of Gillsville, Georgia, passed away Wednesday, September 21, 2011 at his residence following an extended illness.

Funeral services are scheduled for 1:00 pm Saturday, September 24, 2011, in the Chapel of Memorial Park Funeral Home with interment to follow in Memorial Park Mausoleum. The Reverend Jeffrey Brookshire and Reverand Marshall Dale will officiate. The family will receive friends from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm Saturday prior to the service at the funeral home.

CSM Ivey was born August 4, 1939 in Murrayville, Georgia and was the son of the late Carl E. Ivey and Julia Annie (Helton) Ivey. He was preceded in death by his parents; and a son, Gregory A. Ivey; sisters, Joyce Collins and Mildred Smith.

He served in the United States Army and started basic training in 1959 at Ft. Jackson, SC; AIT at Ft. Sill, OK. He retired in 1985 from Ft. McPherson, Atlanta, GA. While serving in the Army he was awarded the Legion of Merit and Bronze Star Medals, and many more Military Medals, Citations and Commendations. He was presented with the Airborne Jumpmaster and M16A1-Expert Auto-Rifle Badge.

He served two tours in Vietnam and four different Counter Offensive Phase Campaigns, while in Vietnam he held the ranks of Brigade Fire Support Sergeant with the 173rd Air Brigade (July 1966