Kathleen Ann Ivie

Funeral services honoring the life of Kathleen Ann Ivie, 49, will be held at 10:00 a.m., Tuesday, March 30, 2021 at Cypress Baptist Church, 4701 Palmetto Rd, Benton, Louisiana. Brother John Fream will officiate the service. Visitation will be held Monday, March 29, 2021 from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at the church. Burial will immediately follow the service at Rose-Neath Cemetery, 5185 Swan Lake Road, Bossier City, Louisiana. Kathleen Ann Ivie was born November 26, 1971 in Edwards, California to James and Betty Matthes and passed away peacefully, Friday, March 26, 2021 in Bossier City, Louisiana. Kathleen graduated from Choctawhatchee High School in Ft. Walton Beach, Florida in 1989, where she was a proud member of the Choctawhatchee Stylemarchers. She earned her bachelor's degree from the University of West Florida in both Early Childhood and Elementary Education and became a National Board-Certified Teacher. A teacher for 29 years, she has taught for 14 years in the Bossier Parish school system at Waller Elementary and for the last 9 years at Apollo Elementary. Kathleen knew from a young age she was born to be a teacher and her passion never wavered. Her gift of teaching touched many lives throughout the years and she was recognized last year for her dedication when she received the Gold Star Award from the Bossier Parish school system. Kathleen met the love of her life, Joseph Ivie, in 1991, during her college years, at the 4HIM concert at Olive Baptist Church and on December 18, 1993, they were married. A devout Christian, she has been a very active and dedicated member of Cypress Baptist Church where she taught the kindergarten class. She loved her family and the many travels she was able to take with them but a key moment in her life that she held dear was when their daughter, Elizabeth Grace, came into their life on April 7, 2011. She is a beautiful light in this world and she and her laughter will be missed by all who knew and loved her. She is preceded in death by her parents, James and Betty Matthes, and brother, James R. Matthes, Jr. Left to cherish her memory are her loving husband of 27 years, Joseph Mark Ivie; daughter, Elizabeth Grace Ivie; sister, Deborah Simerly and husband, Rick of Niceville, FL; brother, Scott R. Matthes and wife, Denise of Montgomery, AL; and numerous nieces and nephews. Honoring Kathleen as pallbearers will be Brandon Brice, Frank Kelly, Beau Miguez, Cameron Robertson, Darrell Robertson, and Rick Simerly. Serving as honorary pallbearers will be the staff at Apollo Elementary.