Ivy Lawrence Alford Jr.

Ivy Lawrence Alford, Jr., age 91, was born in Livonia, Louisiana, on December 26, 1930. He died in Baton Rouge, La, on September 9th, 2022, peacefully in his sleep, surrounded by his loving family. Up until the very end of his life, Ivy modeled strong character and a faithful life, providing joyous meals and loving service to family, friends, country, and community. All who knew him will miss Ivy's sense of humor, commitment to deep and lasting friendships, and his incredible knack for problem-solving.

Ivy grew up in Livonia, Louisiana, and attended high school in Port Allen, where he served as the quarterback on the school’s first football team and amassed several intimate friends with whom he maintained close relationships for the rest of his life. He attended LSU, where he studied architecture until he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps. After meeting Inez (Kitty) Burns in the fourth grade at Port Allen Elementary School and successfully chasing her through high school, Ivy married his childhood sweetheart in 1951. They resided in Port Allen, Baton Rouge, and Denham Springs. They celebrated 68 amazing years together and raised five children.

Ivy served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1951-1953. He was stationed at Camp Pendleton, California, during the Korean War, where he was a staff sergeant with the 1st AAA Automatic Weapons Battalion. During that time, he was assigned to the Operations and Intelligence Headquarters Group that directed the Battalion’s military exercises and training and had a top-secret clearance. After concluding his military service, Ivy went to work for the Allied Chemical Company (later Formosa Plastics), where he rose to the position of Maintenance Superintendent. He retired after 35 years of service at the plant and continued to consult, until fishing and travel became passionate priorities.

Ivy was a faithful and active parishioner at St. Louis King of France Catholic Church in Baton Rouge (and later St. Thomas More), where he served as a member of the Ushers Society and the Knights of Columbus. He was also a member of American Legion Post 28.

For over 35 years, Ivy headed a group of family and friends who cooked home-prepared meals six times a year for homeless men who were temporarily housed at the Bishop Ott Men’s Homeless Shelter. He formed a firm opinion that the shelter’s plates were too small and always brought platter-sized paper plates so he could serve larger portions to the shelter’s homeless guests.

Ivy and Kitty owned a camp on Graveyard Island on Belle River for many years, where they caught thousands of bass, catfish, bream, blue crabs, and sacalait. The couple hosted many a fish fry at their camp for guests from all walks of life. The food that Ivy and Kitty served was always perfectly prepared and enjoyed with gusto, often to the tune (both joyous and disastrous) of LSU sports. Ivy inherited his knack for cooking for large crowds from his father, Ivy, Sr., and often cooked jambalaya in a large iron pot for church events and family gatherings, working off his own finely detailed recipe that served 200. His hand-written jambalaya recipe was ten pages long and ended with the words, "or you can just buy a jambalaya mix."

Ivy was preceded in death by his adored wife, Inez (Kitty) Burns; father, Ivy Alford, Sr. and his mother, Mary Alice St. Romain Alford; his two brothers – Joseph Donald Alford (and wife, Phyllis Short) and Willie Alford; and a sister, Doris Mae Alford; a daughter-in-law Marsha Newton Alford; and a granddaughter, Casey Moore. He is survived by his brother, Terry (Suzanne Granier), and sister-in-law, Dora Dupuy (Willie), and brother-in-law Richard Burns and by his five children: Daughters - Cynthia Moore (Tim) Lacombe, LA; Kim Fossey, (Richard), of Baton Rouge, LA; and Susan White (CJ), of Denham, Springs, LA; and Sons, Donald Alford (Kathy) of Baton Rouge, LA; and Jim Alford of Maurepas.

Ivy is also survived by seventeen grandchildren: Bryan Hebert (Kim); Lauren Lee (Tod); Elizabeth Duffy (Kevin); Charles Moffatt, Jr. (fiancé Leigh-Erin Theriot); Chad Broussard (Kori); Brandon Broussard (Kristen); Jake Alford (Melissa); Elyse Alford (fiancé John Broussard); Madison Ivey (Eric); Hannah Abuvala (Nikhil); Gabrielle Alford; Ivey Alford; Austin Fossey (Brooke); Polly Fossey (Jamie Northrup); Sommer Reville; Kate Goulas (Matt); and Claire Hymel (Guy); 22 great-grandchildren; and one great, great-grandchild.

Visiting on Wednesday, September 14th from 9:30 until 11:15am at Greenoaks Funeral Home (9595 Florida Blvd, Baton Rouge); Mass of Christian Burial at 12 noon at St Thomas More Catholic Church, with the Rev. Michael Alello, celebrant. Interment at Greenoaks Cemetery.

The family thanks the many deeply caring health professionals at Hospice of Baton Rouge, in particular Dad’s Hospice nurse, Suzie Boudinot and his personal sitter and newest friend, Aniya Coleman. In lieu of flowers, consider making a contribution to Hospice of Baton Rouge, St. Thomas More Catholic Church, Society of St Vincent de Paul of Baton Rouge, or an organization close to your heart.