James Ivie , 60

James Harold Ivie, 60, formerly of Glenns Ferry, died Sept. 4, 2004, at Mercy Medical Center in Nampa, from complications of pulmonary fibrosis.

Memorial services were held at Crossroads Assembly of God in Wilder, on Friday Sept. 10. Funeral arrangements were under the direction of Zeyer Funeral Chapel, Nampa.

Jim was born in Vinita, Okla., April 21, 1944, to Dennis and Mildred Ivie. They lived in Oklahoma, Missouri and Idaho during his childhood.

In 1962, at the age of 17, Jim joined the US Army where he received many military awards, including the Meritorious Service medal. "He proudly served his country ready to defend the United States of America, her freedoms and values," his family said. He retired with honors on April 15, 1982.

In 1966 he married Phyllis Martin of Wilder. Together they had three children, Tom, Karla and Jeff.

Jim was a dedicated Christian, his family said. In 1978, he received Christian Worker's papers from the Alaska Assembly of God district and his License to Preach in 1981. He ministered on weekends until he retired from the military in 1982. He received his ordination from the Southern Idaho District on March 12, 1986. After retirement, Jim planted an Assembly of God church in Rigby. Following that he pastored in Glenn's Ferry, Dillon, Mont., Harlem, Mont., and Superior, Mont.

"He was a proud dad, loving husband, devoted pastor and servant of God," his family said, adding that "Jim loved people."

He served as police chaplain in Glenn's Ferry and Superior, Mont., and as an associate chaplain at Sea-Tac Airport in Seattle, Wash. He was recently accepted as a chaplain for the Idaho State Police.

"His great joy was to help people find Jesus and to set their path on to a productive direction," his family said. "His positive attitude and loving spirit will be remembered by those who knew him and by those whose lives he touched. We all will miss Jim, his happy smile, spiritual wisdom and his humor."

He is survived by: his wife of 38 years, Phyllis Ivie of Caldwell; sons and daughter-in-law, Tom and Liz Ivie of Moscow, daughter, Karla Murray of Helena, Mont., and son and daughter-in-law Jeff and Angie Ivie of Nampa; two brothers and sisters-in-law, Eldon and Ann Martin of Boulder City, Nev., and Bill and Ardy Fisher of Eagle; seven grandchildren, three nephews and one niece.

He was predeceded in death by his step-father, Dennis Ivie.

In lieu of flowers the family asks that memorial contributions be sent to the Montana District of the Assemblies of God, MUCH Fund, 2147 Overland Ave., Billings, MT 59102. The MUCH Fund is Montana's United Caring Helping. It helps pastors be able to take a small church with little support and build it into a successful congregation. The fund helped Pastor Ivie in three such churches.