Iva Lou "Ivy" Shepherd

Obituary for Iva Lou “Ivy” Minor Brewer Shepherd

April 9, 1930 – July 18, 2025

Iva Lou Shepherd passed away peacefully at her home in Sun City, Arizona, on July 18, 2025, at the age of 95. A beloved wife, mother, sister, grandmother, aunt and friend, Ivy lived a life of service, love, and unwavering faith.

Ivy was born on April 9, 1930, in Evanston, Wyoming, to Thelma Leota and Milton Bird Minor. Though her time in Wyoming was brief, her early childhood was spent in Minnesota, primarily in Mankato and St. James. She was the eldest of four children and is preceded in death by her brother Milton Peterson Minor and survived by her sister Gayle Irene Franklin Eller (Sun City, AZ) and brother Douglas Neil Minor (Nampa, ID).

Ivy attended Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, where she met and married Daniel Duane Brewer. Together, they raised six children and spent most of their married life in the Seattle Washington area. Their children include the late Carma Valene Brewer, Deborah Lynn Bake (Peoria, AZ), Dana Michelle Templeman-O’Neil (Sun City, AZ), the late Karen Diane Paulson, the late Daniel Milton Brewer, and Kimberley Kay Taylor (Sun City, AZ).

Following their divorce in 1980, Ivy married Alvin Rollins Shepherd in 1981. She warmly embraced his children as her own: Thomas Alvin Shepherd (Morehead, KY), Judith Viola Gygi (Salt Lake City, UT), the late Donald Bartley Shepherd, the late Jacqueline Lenore Cook, Lorinda Jane Jarvis (Wellsville, UT), and the late Latricia May Shepherd.

Together, Ivy and Al lived in Vancouver, Washington, before serving a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Zaire, Africa, from 1988 to 1990. They later settled in Nampa, Idaho, to be near family and served another mission in Palmyra, New York, from 1999 to 2001. They also served as ordinance workers in the Boise Idaho Temple. Al passed away in 2003, and Ivy later moved to Sun City, Arizona, in 2007.

Ivy earned a degree in elementary education from the University of Washington and had a lifelong passion for learning and teaching. She was known for her immaculate home, her incredible memory, her love of reading and games, and especially her extraordinary candy-making skills. Ivy was a faithful member of her church, serving in numerous leadership and teaching roles, including as a Seminary teacher, Relief Society President at both ward and stake levels, and in Primary and Young Women’s organizations.

Ivy was a woman of great compassion and strength. She made all who knew her feel loved, valued, and welcomed. Her legacy of faith, service, and love will continue to inspire those who knew her.

She will be deeply missed by her surviving children, stepchildren, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, siblings, and many extended family members and friends.

A Memorial Service for Ivy Shepherd will be held August 16, 2025 at 11:00 am.  A meet and greet will be held beforehand from 10:00 – 11:00 am.  Both will be held at: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 13014 N 108th Ave, Sun City, AZ 85351.

For those of you who cannot attend, there will be a zoom link for the memorial service.

Zoom Link:  ID# 970 5130 8126, Passcode:  Worship

There will also be a graveside service on September 13, 2025 at 12:00 pm, at Hillcrest Memorial Gardens, 15862 Indiana Ave, Caldwell, ID 83607