Iva Mae (Lee) Kirkpatrick

Iva Mae Kirkpatrick of Sallisaw, born Sept 7, 1938 in the rural community of Watts, OK went to her eternal resting place on November 25, 2020 at the age of 82.

Iva was the second of 6 children born to John Spy Lee and Jewel McClure Lee. She grew up in the Watts community with her four brothers Herbert, Wilburn, Harrell, and Ronnie, and her younger sister Wanda, all of whom she loved dearly.

Iva graduated from Sallisaw High School in 1956 and moved to Rockford, IL where she had lived and worked the previous summer while staying with her relatives there. She married the love of her life Earl Kirkpatrick from Rockford in Dec., 1956. They relocated from Rockford to Sallisaw in 1960 to be near her roots with the intention of raising their family in a small town.

Iva was a homemaker, a devoted mother to her three children Rita, Pam, and Scotty (and later a doting grandmother to her 7 grandchildren). Their family life revolved around church, with the family attending Watts Holiness Church. She was a strong role model and positive influence to her 3 children, as well as a loving and supportive wife to her husband. There were always many large family gatherings.

A major claim to fame of Iva’s was being a fanatically meticulous housekeeper. Her shiny waxed wood floors were sometimes known to be a “trip hazard” to visitors. She also liked to keep her home decorated nicely.

The next phase of her life began when she lost her husband in May, 1994 after 37 years of marriage at the age of 55, leaving her a young widow. She became a long-term resident of Vian Nursing Home in year 2000 after suffering a stroke. She remained a resident there until passing.

She made the most of her “new family.” She enjoyed the companionship of the other residents, the nurses, and other caregivers. She enjoyed engaging in many of the activities they held, as well as enjoyed having outside visitors drop in. Her most frequent visitor was her sister Wanda who made frequent visits to see her as her children didn’t live nearby, but visited to the degree their work and family schedules would allow.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, one granddaughter Brittany Mae Sue Kirkpatrick, and her older brother Herbert. All her other siblings are still with us.

She is survived by her daughters Rita (Dennis) Fullbright of Fayetteville, AR and Pamela (John) Ollis of Tampa, FL; one son Scott Kirkpatrick of Tampa, FL; grandchildren Lindsay(Garett) Keeney, Jessica McGowan, Tyler Fullbright, Dillon Kirkpatrick, Jacob Kirkpatrick, Hannah Kirkpatrick, and Reanna Kirkpatrick. She is also survived by 9 great grandchildren.

A “family only socially distanced” memorial service will be held at the chapel of Agent Mallory Martin on Thursday, December 3rd at 10:00 a.m. Burial will be at Sallisaw City Cemetery.

Pallbearers include Tyler Fullbright, Dillon Kirkpatrick, Garett Keeney and her nephews.

Honorary pallbearers include Wilburn, Harrell, Ronnie, and Dwain Lee; Dennis Fullbright, and John Ollis.

The family would like to thank the Vian Nursing Home for all their years of dedicated and attentive care, as well as a big thank you to her “special friend” Annette Crowder, the Special Activities Director there.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Watts Holiness Church.

Because of Covid restrictions, the Kirkpatrick family will have a private service, but the public may pay their respects and sign the register book 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 2 at Agent Mallory Martin Funeral Home in Sallisaw.