Richard Carl Ivy

Tribute to the Life of Richard C. Ivy

Rick was called to rest with God on October 31, 2021. He was a resident of Dayton, Texas. Rick was 76 years old, born on August 16, 1945, in Houston, Texas to his parents Othel and Atha Lorene Ivy. They moved to Channelview, Texas when he was one year old, growing up in a neighborhood where he knew everyone and they knew him!

Rick joined the United States Navy before graduating from high school. He was a Navy veteran, having two tours of duty in Vietnam and receiving several medals for his service. After his honorable discharge from the Navy, he worked for several construction companies in and around Houston, Texas. Rick began driving local delivery trucks, working for numerous companies and eventually began a career as a long-haul truck driver for various companies for years until he was hired by Akzo Nobel. He drove for them for over twenty years, earning the respect from his fellow drivers and superiors. Rick was awarded many safety awards over the years, and was very proud of his driving over one million miles for them.

Rick loved to fish, going as often as possible, shooting clay targets just about every weekend, when he wasn’t fishing. He also enjoyed riding and caring for his horse! Rick really loved old trucks and cars but never got into restoring them himself.

Rick put his driving skills to the test starting in 1996. He began pulling a trailer with his tractor for Halloween hayrides for the subdivision. Rick pulled his trailer for eleven years and had kids coming from all over town filled with joy and excitement. We are not sure who enjoyed this more, the kids getting the candy or the parents in the neighborhood passing out the candy.

Rick was a wonderful man, husband, father, dad, friend, and brother. He was loved by all who knew him. Rick was very proud of his family and his profession. He took pride in everything he did, he will be missed very much and held in our hearts forever.

Rick was preceded in death by his parents Othel and Atha Lorene Ivy; his grandson Jacob Box; and many relatives and in-laws. He is survived by his wife Evelyn of almost thirty-nine years of Dayton, Texas; his sister Diane Caulk of Pasadena, Texas; three daughters by his first wife, Tina Box and husband Troy of Kerrville, Texas, Tammy Ceballos and husband Chris of Hudson Oaks, Texas, and Teri Diyer and husband Dave of Alvarado, Texas. He was also a dad to his wife’s two children, daughter Cheryl Kirkland and husband Troy of Dayton, Texas and son Ricky Gaertner and fiancé Kim Dyson of Deer Park, Texas; his grandchildren Mandy Box, Paige Massey and husband Tobin, Michelle Kirkland and fiancé Preston Fruge, Jacob Box, Brooklyn Ceballos, Brittany Ceballos, Sara Ceballos, Justin Kirkland, Dalton Gaertner and his fiancé Lyndsey Johnson, Alysa Gaertner, Tristan Allman and wife Jessica, and Kyle Abernathy and wife Aiden; his three great-grandchildren Emma Allman, Cooper Massey, and Griffin Massey; his many nieces, nephews and cousins; and a host of other loving relatives and friends.

A celebration of Rick’s life will be held at 1pm, on Saturday, November 20, 2021, in the chapel of Sterling Funeral Home, 602 N. Main Street in Dayton, with Bro. Jeff Day, officiating.

Condolences can be shared online with the family by visiting www.SterlingFuneralHome.com

To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.