Ira Corey

IRA N. COREY IDAHO FALLS, ID - The encroachments of age took the life of Ira N. Corey on Friday, October 17, 2003. He would have been ninety-seven years old in a few days. Ira was born on a 180-acre homesteaded farm three miles west of Thornton, Idaho, November 2, 1906, a son of Ira Newton and Mary Maria Firth Corey. Of two girls and four boys, Ira was the last surviving child. As a child, he attended school in Thornton for three years. He remembers the snow being deep but frozen so he could walk on top and across the fences. When his father became sheriff of Madison County, he moved with his family to Rexburg, Idaho. There he completed his education graduating from Rick's College in the spring of 1928. He married Beatrice Swendsen of Rexburg December 3, 1928. The marriage was later solemnized in the Idaho Falls LDS Temple. Two children were born to Ira and Bea: Richard Ira (Thelma) Corey and Marsha Rae (John) Stanger. There are nine grandchildren and thirty-one great grandchildren. Ira worked throughout his life beginning with Graham Boyle Hardware while going to school. After school, he worked for Utah Power and Light installing electric refrigerators in old iceboxes in cafes and homes. At the time of his marriage to Beatrice, he worked for Rowles Mack Company Men's Store. With his brothers, Roy, Harry and Joseph, he obtained the McCormick-Deering International Harvester agency in Idaho Falls which the brothers operated for ten or eleven years as the Corey Implement Company. When World War II erupted, war equipment replaced farm equipment, so the implement company closed. Ira purchased the corner grocery store on 13th street and Holmes Avenue in Idaho Falls. It was a profitable business during the war years. Following the war, Ira contacted M. R. Ballard, who had the American Motors automobile dealership in Salt Lake City. Mr. Ballard assigned Ira the dealership for Eastern Idaho. Ira built the building on the corner of Shoup and "D" Streets where he sold Nash Rambler and later, DeSoto-Plymouth automobiles. After retiring from the automobile business, Ira worked as an insurance agent for Mutual of New York (MONY). One year he served as chairman of a successful Community Chest Drive for the city of Idaho Falls. For many years, he was an active member of the Kiwanis Club. Ira's wife, Bea, died in the spring of 1968. In October, 1969, he married Lois Nadauld. They honeymooned in Arizona, then traveled to Hawaii twice. They toured the Mayan and Olmec ruins in Mexico. He and Lois toured in Israel and other countries nearby, then spent thirty-six days traveling around the world. Ira acquired three stepchildren with his marriage to Lois, Stephen (Margaret) Nadauld, Bill Nadauld, Kelli Fife and thirteen Nadauld grandchildren, which marriage was later sealed in the Idaho Falls LDS Temple. Ira was a convert to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, joining October 4, 1929. His Church service included teaching, serving as First Counselor in the Sixth Ward Bishopric for seven years, seven years on the Idaho Falls South Stake High Council and three years as stake clerk and auditor. About 1969, Ira built a cabin at Mack's Inn, Idaho. It became the center of many family events: reunions, snowmobiling, honeymoons for grandchildren. Many quiet and peaceful hours were also spent at "the cabin." Fishing, hunting and playing the organ were favorite pastimes of Ira. He loved music. On one occasion, he openly wept as he listened to soprano Beverly Sills sing. He had a ready smile and a spontaneous laugh. A good joke would move him to humorous tears. Ira was preceded in death by his wives, Beatrice and Lois. A granddaughter, a great granddaughter and a great grandson also died before Ira. Ira has enjoyed good health and an alert mind until the last few months of his ninety-sixth year. He provided a good life for his family and served the community honorably. We shall miss him. Funeral services will be conducted at 2:00 p.m., Thursday, October 23, 2003, at Wood Chapel of the Pines, 273 North Ridge Avenue. The family will receive friends on Thursday, from 12:30 to 1:45 p.m. at the funeral home. Burial will be in Rose Hill Cemetery under the direction of Wood Funeral Home, 273 N. Ridge Ave., Idaho Falls, ID 83402-4092 Phone: (208) 522-2751 FAX: 522-5413.