Ivan Virgil Fahy

Ivan V. (Whitey) Fahy, 88, passed away on Monday, October 9th. Whitely was born on February 8, 1929 in Muscatine, Iowa. The son of Walter and Ida Eberling Fahy. He married his wife Betty Farrier Fahy on April 17, 1970 in Coal Valley, Illinois. He was a graduate of Muscatine High School in 1947.

Whitey worked for 23 years at the Oscar Mayer in Davenport, Iowa. He took great pride in his job and following his move to Arizona, assembled a small collection of Oscar Mayer memorabilia. In 1972 he and his wife Betty and the family moved to Scottsdale, Arizona. Whitey worked for many years for Triumph Manufacturing as a machinist. Throughout that time he also made custom parts for aircraft. He eventually retired from Triumph in 1993. They purchased a second home in Cordes Lakes and quickly became an integral part of the community, forming many friendships and close bonds with the residents of that small town. It reminded both of them of small towns in Iowa and was an escape from the hustle and bustle of the booming Phoenix Valley. In retirement, Whitey and Betty stayed very busy as coordinators for the Cordes Lakes Arizona Community Center, coordinating monthly breakfasts and community events. The joke was often that they were busier in retirement than they were when they were working.

They also enjoyed their small RV together and made many summer trips across the US and specifically to Iowa, where they got to spend time with family. The Iowa family recall fondly, waiting eagerly for the van and later, Yukon and Camper to make the annual trek back to Iowa, meaning it would be a good two weeks of grandpa and grandma time.

Whitey loved his gadgets, likely a leftover from his many years as a machinist, tinkering with parts and creating custom pieces for folks. He took great interest in his grandchildren’s adventures and often would tell others stories of what this or that grandchild was up to. Whitey enjoyed talking about how machines worked.

He will be missed for his humor, candor and quiet approach to life. Survivors include his daughter Lynn Ceere Morrow, stepdaughter Pam Wilson, stepson Steve Behrends, and wife Betty Fahy, 10 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, 3 brothers, Bob, Bill and Dick Fahy, sister Marie Schenkelberg and stepson William Lee Behrends.

A memorial service will be held at the Green Acres Mortuary Chapel of Light on Monday, November 20, 2017. Pastor Steve Tvedt will officiate the service.

Memorials in Whitey’s name may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, 1028 East McDowell Road, Phoenix, Arizona 85006 or the East Valley Hospice, 1311 West Chandler Boulevard, Suite 200, Chandler, Arizona 85224.

Services have been entrusted to the Green Acres Mortuary & Cemetery.