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Greg Ivers, life-long resident of the Ponca City area, passed away Saturday, February 25, 2023 after an unforeseen health crisis. He was 59 years young and his passing was sudden and unexpected, leaving an aching wound in the hearts of all his family members and many friends.
Gregory Leo Ivers was born on October 15, 1963 in Ponca City, Oklahoma to parents Johnie and Joy Ivers, the youngest of their seven children. Like his sister and brothers before him, Greg grew up in St. Mary’s Catholic Parish and attended St. Mary’s Parish School until high school, at which time he attended Ponca City High School, graduating in 1981. Greg went through the welding vocational program at Pioneer Technology Center, where he advanced the skills he learned from his father, Johnie, at Ivers Welding & Machine Shop. After high school, Greg began his working career in Alamosa, CO. During this time, he worked with his brother Rick installing pre-fabricated metal buildings, farmed with family member Gilbert Fransen, and worked at Sorum Tractor Company where he repaired and sold equipment. After his time in Alamosa, Greg returned to Ponca City and Osage County where he made his home and business for the rest of his life.
With Greg’s much-too-early passing, he leaves behind his beloved wife Janet Ivers, his son Jason Lee Ivers and wife Lauren and their daughter Eloise Joy, his daughter Jessica Marie Ivers and her daughter Gentry Layne and son Jensen Leo, all of Ponca City, his son Steven Hesston Warden-Ivers, of Stillwater, OK and his son Chase Webb and wife Kelsea and their son Oliver Gray of Edmond, OK.
Greg is also survived by his five older brothers, Anthony Wayne (Tony) of Winter Haven, FL, Jon Christopher (Chris) and wife Brenda of Sarasota, FL, Phillip Robert (Phil) and wife Michele of Denver, CO, Kevin Joseph and wife Tina of Ponca City, Richard Paul (Rick) and wife Cathy of Alamosa, CO, not one of which expected or wished to outlive their youngest brother. He also leaves behind many nieces and nephews, all of whom loved being around him.
Greg was preceded in death by sister, Mary Leslie Ivers, formerly of Santa Fe, NM in 2006. His mother and father also preceded Greg in death, but not without enjoying the remainder of their rural Osage County lives under the watchful eye and constant companionship and devotion of their youngest son Greg.
Greg made his living and career as a welder, machinist and fabricator in Ponca City, as the owner of Ivers Welding and Machine Shop for the past 35 years. In buying the long-time area business from his father and mentor Johnie in 1987, Greg built upon his father’s reputation for innovativeness, quality and reliability, while preserving the knowledge passed down to him. Greg continued Ivers Welding & Machine Shop’s tradition of caring for the community through excellent and personable service over the next 35 years. Upon his retirement in 2022, the Ponca City area lost a treasured talent and experience that can’t be easily replaced. Like his father, Greg built a reputation for completed-work quality, dependable service and fair-dealing, all of which are character traits that will be long-cherished by the customers of Ivers Welding.
If asked, Greg would have claimed that his life’s legacy was his children and grandchildren. Since retiring, Greg’s life and time has been devoted to being a very active and engaged “Papa” to his grandchildren and a devoted father to his children.
Greg’s professional legacy is on display throughout Ponca City and the greater Oklahoma landscape. It is found in area schools, churches, farms, ranches, government buildings and homes. You can see Greg’s craft in not only in the visible items like handrails and ornamental work but also the infrastructure that allows the community to function every day. Everyone including local farmers, ranchers, business owners, and contractors can point to the equipment that has been delivered to Greg for his repair expertise the over the years.
To know Greg as your husband, father, brother, uncle, grandfather or friend was to know him as a committed “teaser” or sometimes even as a “gruff and tough audience.” To know him this way would also mean you knew Greg to be a loyal friend who was always willing to lend a hand or an ear and was not afraid to give out difficult, but needed advice. Greg will be profoundly missed by everyone who knew and loved him. It will be impossible to forget who he was and what he meant to his family, friends and the Ponca City area community.
Greg’s family will greet friends and family members in a public memorial held at the Carolyn Renfro Center at 445 Fairview Ave in Ponca City this Saturday, March 4 at 2:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, the family wishes to suggest a contribution in Greg’s memory to Hospice of North Central Oklahoma, 445 Fairview Ave, Ponca City, OK 74601. Remembrances may be shared online at www.stittsworthfuneralservices.com.
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