Ivoy Pearson

Ivoy Opal Pearson, 86, of St. Joseph, MI passed away at Lakeland Regional Medical Center in St. Joseph on Friday, July 19, 2013, with her loving family by her side. Arrangements have been entrusted with Starks & Menchinger Family Funeral Home of St. Joseph. Ivoy was born on January 11, 1927 in Bald Knob, AR to Arthur and Emma (Norris) Watson. On August 16, 1941 in St. Joseph, MI she married Berlin Lee Pearson. He preceded her in death on July 17, 1986. Ivoy was a past member of the First Baptist Church in Benton Harbor, and also the Oak Ridge Baptist Church in St. Joseph. She loved gardening, sewing, traveling with her husband, spending time with her family, but most of all loved Jesus. Ivoy is survived by her daughter Vickie Frees of St. Joseph; two grandchildren John (Mary Harris) Frees of Chicago, IL and Holly Frees of Nashville, TN; and a great granddaughter Mary Lynn Frees. She is preceded in death by her parents-Arthur and Emma Watson, her husband-Berlin, brothers-Elwood, Elbert, and Vaughn, and her sisters-Pauline Nichols, Lee Bailey, Elvera Latham and Shirley Boyer. A Celebration of Life service will be held on Tuesday, July 23, 1:00 PM at the Starks & Menchinger Family Funeral Home, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph, MI, with Pastor Miryam Hammond officiating. Burial will follow at Riverview Cemetery, St. Joseph. Visitation is on Monday from 6:00-8:00 PM at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to ‘Feed the Children’ P.O. Box 36, Oklahoma City, OK 73101. Friends wishing to leave the family a message of condolence may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com