Mary Joellen Higdon Ivey

Mary Joellen Higdon Ivey, 61, of Paducah passed away Friday, December 31, 2010 at her home. Born in Owensboro, KY on August 18, 1949, she was the daughter of the late Joseph Charles and Mary Ellen Fulkerson Higdon; was a retired teacher; and was a member of St. Frances De Sales Catholic Church and St. Thomas More Catholic Church. Joellen graduated from Brescia University with a Bachelor of Music Education degree, Murray State University with a Master of Music Education, and St. Mary of the Woods College with a Master of Arts in Pastoral Theology. She taught for over 25 years at various schools including St. Stephen Elementary, Owensboro Catholic High School, St. Francis De Sales School, and in the St. Mary School System. She also worked as the Director of Faith Formation at St. Thomas More. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by a brother Charles Anthony "Tony" Higdon.

Surviving are her husband of 34 years, Patrick Ivey; daughters, Sarah Schomaker of Columbia, SC and Andrea Ivey of Minneapolis, MN; a grandson, Ethan DeLapp of Mayfield, KY; a sister, Helena Schultz of Paducah; and brothers, Fred Higdon of Murfreesboro, TN, and John Higdon and Larry Higdon of Owensboro, KY.

Funeral mass will be 12:05 p.m. Tuesday, January 4, 2011 at St Stephen Cathedral with Father John Vaughan and Father Brian Roby officiating with burial following in Resurrection Cemetery. Visitation will be from 2-8 p.m. on Monday, January 3 and after 9 a.m. on Tuesday at Glenn Funeral Home and Crematory where prayers will be said at 6:30 p.m. on Monday evening.

Expressions of sympathy may take the form of donations to the Alzheimer's Association, St. Mary School System in Paducah, KY, or Brescia University in Owensboro, KY.

Online condolences may be left at www.glennfuneralhome.com.