Jane Blythe Ives

Jane Blythe Ives, age 78, died peacefully at her home on February 24, 2012. She was born on January 11, 1934 in Charlotte, NC, the daughter of the late Senator Joseph Lee Blythe and Cherrye High Blythe. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her sister, Martha Blythe Richardson, and brothers, Joseph Lee Blythe, Jr. and Samuel High Blythe.

Jane is survived by her loving husband of over 58 years, Claude Lee Ives, Jr., three children, Cherrye Ives Small, Claude Lee Ives, III and his wife Carol and Joseph Preston Ives and his wife Kathy, all of Charlotte. In addition, she is survived by her grandchildren, Winston Edward Small, Chamblee Byers Small, Lauren Ashton Ives, Kathleen Ann Ives, Katherine Ellis Ives and Madeline Harris Ives; her sister-in-law, Harriet Ives Bingenheimer; brothers-in-law, Charles George Bingenheimer, Sr. and Harold Ray Richardson, Sr.; as well as 11 nieces and nephews; 19 great-nieces and nephews; and 11 great-great-nieces and nephews.

She was proud to be a Charlotte native and attended Charlotte schools until moving to Washington, D.C. to attend and graduate from Holton Arms School. She then attended St. Mary’s School in Raleigh, NC and Queens College in Charlotte, NC. She was active in the community as President of the Charlotte Children’s Theatre, President of the Charlotte Memorial Hospital Auxiliary, and also spent time working with the Charlotte Speech and Hearing Center and the Charlotte Junior League. She was also proud to volunteer in the formative years of the Charlotte Latin School Parents’ Council and Booster Club. More recently, she enjoyed the service and fellowship of the Take My Hands Circle at Myers Park Presbyterian Church.

The family would like to express its deep gratitude to Dr. Grant Taylor and the entire staff at Oncology Specialists of Charlotte, the staff at Presbyterian Hospital, and also to Ms. Ruby Johnson for the tremendous care and compassion shown during Jane’s illness.

A service to celebrate the life of Jane Ives will be held at Myers Park Presbyterian Church on Monday, February 27, 2012 at 2:00 p.m. with a reception to follow. The interment will be private. The family will receive visitors at the home of Claude L. Ives, Jr. on Sunday, February 26, 2012 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.

Memorials may be made to Myers Park Presbyterian Church, 2501 Oxford Place, Charlotte, NC 28207, or the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, 4530 Park Road, Suite 240, Charlotte, NC 28209.