Obituary for William James Ivester
Memorial services for W.J. (Bill) Ivester, 70, prominent attorney and long time Altus resident, will be at 2:00pm Wednesday, at the First United Methodist Church, with the Rev. Don Johnson officiating. Lowell-Tims Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. He died late Sunday at his home after a brief illness. Mr. Ivester is survived by his daughter, Allison Allen of Arlington, Texas; a son, Eric Ivester of Dallas, Texas; his sister, Cathryn Ivester of Oklahoma City and three grandchildren, Kristopher Ryan Allen, Jeffery James Ivester and William Blake Ivester.
Mr. Ivester was born September 13, 1921, in Sayer, Oklahoma. He married Eleanor Louise Thompson on November 26, 1947, in Norman, Oklahoma. Mrs. Ivester preceded him in death on June 19, 1984.
Mr. Ivester graduated from high school at Erick, Oklahoma, in 1938. He attended the University of Oklahoma and graduated in January 1943, with a Bachelors of Arts Degree majoring in History. Prior to graduating from the University of Oklahoma, he enlisted and was later commissioned as an ensign in the United States Naval Reserve. He saw action in the Pacific participating in the invasions of the Phillipines, Iwo Jima and Okinawa. He retired from the Naval Reserve in 1953 having obtained the rank Lt. Commander.
After discharge from active service in July, 1946, he returned to Norman to attend the University of Oklahoma School of Law. While in law school, he was a member of Phi Delta Theta legal fraternity. Mr. Ivester graduated from law school in August 1948,and was admitted to the bar later that year.
The Ivesters moved to Altus in October 1948, where Mr. Ivester accepted a position as Assistant County Attorney. A year later, he entered private practice. In 1950, he ran for and was elected to the Oklahoma House of Representatives in which he served the citizens for 2 terms.
After this service in the legislature, Mr. Ivester returned to private practice and concurrently served as Altus City Attorney from 193 through 1963, he and Thomas G. Braddock combined their law practices. Mr. Ivester continued in the practice of law in partnership with Mr./ Braddock and later, until his death, with Mr. Braddock's son, David B. Braddock. In addition to the practice of law, he continued to pursue his love for agriculture and specifically, cattle breeding which he has don continuously since 1962.
In addition to the Oklahoma Supreme Court, Mr. Ivester was admitted to practice fefore the United States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma and the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit. He was a member and past President of the Jackson County Bar Association, the Elks Golf and Country Club and the Altus Lions Club. Mr. Ivester was Vice-President of the Western Trail Historical and Genealogical Society and a director of the First State Bank of Altus.
Mr. Ivester was a member of the Board of Directors of the Southern Prairie Library System including service as its Chairman and Vice-Chairman. He was also a member of the Mason Temple, the Oklahoma Association of Municipal Attorneys, the First United Methodist Church, American Bar Association and the Oklahoma Bar Association.
Memorials have been established in Mr. Ivester's name at the Southern Prairie Library System in Altus, Oklahoma.
10/23/1991
2:00 PM
Funeral
1st United Methodist Church
Altus
OK
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Mr. Ivester was born September 13, 1921, in Sayer, Oklahoma. He married Eleanor Louise Thompson on November 26, 1947, in Norman, Oklahoma. Mrs. Ivester preceded him in death on June 19, 1984.
Mr. Ivester graduated from high school at Erick, Oklahoma, in 1938. He attended the University of Oklahoma and graduated in January 1943, with a Bachelors of Arts Degree majoring in History. Prior to graduating from the University of Oklahoma, he enlisted and was later commissioned as an ensign in the United States Naval Reserve. He saw action in the Pacific participating in the invasions of the Phillipines, Iwo Jima and Okinawa. He retired from the Naval Reserve in 1953 having obtained the rank Lt. Commander.
After discharge from active service in July, 1946, he returned to Norman to attend the University of Oklahoma School of Law. While in law school, he was a member of Phi Delta Theta legal fraternity. Mr. Ivester graduated from law school in August 1948,and was admitted to the bar later that year.
The Ivesters moved to Altus in October 1948, where Mr. Ivester accepted a position as Assistant County Attorney. A year later, he entered private practice. In 1950, he ran for and was elected to the Oklahoma House of Representatives in which he served the citizens for 2 terms.
After this service in the legislature, Mr. Ivester returned to private practice and concurrently served as Altus City Attorney from 193 through 1963, he and Thomas G. Braddock combined their law practices. Mr. Ivester continued in the practice of law in partnership with Mr./ Braddock and later, until his death, with Mr. Braddock's son, David B. Braddock. In addition to the practice of law, he continued to pursue his love for agriculture and specifically, cattle breeding which he has don continuously since 1962.
In addition to the Oklahoma Supreme Court, Mr. Ivester was admitted to practice fefore the United States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma and the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit. He was a member and past President of the Jackson County Bar Association, the Elks Golf and Country Club and the Altus Lions Club. Mr. Ivester was Vice-President of the Western Trail Historical and Genealogical Society and a director of the First State Bank of Altus.
Mr. Ivester was a member of the Board of Directors of the Southern Prairie Library System including service as its Chairman and Vice-Chairman. He was also a member of the Mason Temple, the Oklahoma Association of Municipal Attorneys, the First United Methodist Church, American Bar Association and the Oklahoma Bar Association.
Memorials have been established in Mr. Ivester's name at the Southern Prairie Library System in Altus, Oklahoma.
10/23/1991
2:00 PM
Funeral
1st United Methodist Church
Altus
OK
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