Staff

Our dedicated staff members are here to provide support, compassion, and information to help you through your journey of grief and the celebration of your loved one’s life.

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John Ivie Owner/ Licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer

In moving forward with the third generation of family, John Ivie has assumed most of the day-to-day responsibilities at Ivie Funeral Home. John joined his parents in 2006 after receiving his Mortuary Science degree from Fayetteville Technical College. He is a licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer in North Carolina and Georgia and also holds an insurance license. He is also a crematory operator. John is a native of Cherokee County and a graduate of Murphy High School. He is married to Victoria Clark and has two daughters, Harper Pearl and Peyton Rhea, and a son, John Clark. 

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Victoria Ivie Licensed Funeral Director

Victoria Ivie is a licensed funeral director for Ivie Funeral Home. She is a native of Kingsport, Tennessee and graduated from Washington & Jefferson College. Victoria is the granddaughter of Joan Dockery and the late Floyd Dockery. She is married to John Ivie and has two daughters, Harper Pearl and Peyton Rhea, and a son, John Clark. She attends Grape Creek Baptist Church. She is a college volleyball referree and enjoys quilting. 

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Grier Ivie Owner/ Licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer

After more than 50 years in the funeral business, Grier Ivie is the most experienced Funeral Director in the area and is available to meet with families when necessary. He is also a licensed Embalmer and insurance agent. Grier is a native and lifetime resident of Cherokee County and graduated from Murphy High School and Dallas Institute of Funeral Service in Dallas, Texas. He is a lifetime member of Murphy First Baptist Church where he served as the Chairman of the Deacons. Grier is a member and past president of the Murphy Rotary Club. He is currently serving on the Board of Directors at Nantahala Bank. Grier feels as if his biggest accomplishment for the community was providing a modern funeral home facility to serve our local people. Grier is married to Pat Harper and they have four children and 13 grandchildren.

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Pat Ivie Owner/ Licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer

Pat Ivie has made up the other half of Ivie Funeral Home for more than 50 years. She is a licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer, also graduating from Dallas Institute of Funeral Service in Dallas, Texas.  Pat was raised in Murphy and later graduated from Osborne High School in Marietta, Georgia. She is a member of Murphy First Baptist Church where she serves on the Personnel Committee. Pat serves on the Board of Directors at Nantahala Bank. Pat has four children and 13 grandchildren.

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Troy Taylor Licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer

Troy Taylor is a compassionate funeral director and embalmer with licenses in North Carolina, Georgia, and Tennessee. A native of Cherokee County, who attended Murphy High School, Troy has dedicated years to the funeral industry and has been a licensed crematory operator since 2018. He earned his degree in Funeral Services from Fayetteville Technical College and holds additional certifications from the Fountain National Academy of Embalming Skills in postmortem reconstruction and the Professional Embalmers Institute. Troy also holds an insurance license. He is married to his wife, Kayla, and they have four children: Tori, Layla, Talia, and Ridge. Troy is deeply committed to supporting families during their times of need.

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Justin Mack Funeral Service Apprentice

Justin Mack is a dedicated Funeral Service Apprentice studying embalming and funeral service at Fayetteville Technical College. Born in Boone, North Carolina and raised in Miami, Florida, Justin moved to the area in 1995. With a diverse background that includes roles as a local radio DJ and animal control officer, he now focuses on supporting families during their most challenging moments. In addition to his apprenticeship, Justin works as a crematory operator, combining his skills and compassion to provide comfort and care.

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Stephanie James Licensed Funeral Director and Insurance Agent

Stephanie James has been a full-time employee of Ivie Funeral Home since 1984. She is a licensed Funeral Director and insurance agent. Stephanie was born in South Florida, but has lived in Murphy since 1979. She graduated from Murphy High School and Tri-County Community College. She earned her Mortuary Science degree from Fayetteville Technical College. Stephanie is a member of Peachtree Memorial Baptist Church. Stephanie loves the outdoors and home improvement projects. She is married to Edwin and has two step-children and five grandchildren.

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Tamala Orton Office Staff and Funeral Assistant

Tamala Orton has been employed with Ivie Funeral Home since 2021. She is a native of Murphy and is married to Zack Orton. Tamala has a son, Levi and a daughter, Kelsey. She is a member of Mount Liberty Baptist Church, where her husband is the pastor. Tamala enjoys playing the piano and spending time with her family.

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Andy Worley Licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer

Andy is a native and lifelong resident of this area. He graduated in 1973 from Murphy High School where he played football. He attended Gupton-Jones School of Mortuary Science in Atlanta and has worked in the funeral industry for more than 40 years.

His wife is Kathy and he has three children, Andrea, Branson, and Valerie.  He has five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

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Brian Jimmerson Funeral Assistant / Maintenance

Brian Jimmerson joined Ivie Funeral Home after spending 25 years in the gaming industry. He is a Florida native and attended the University of South Florida. He is a Microsoft Certified Network Engineer. Brian and his four daughters have been residents of Murphy since 2015. 

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Andrew Graves Funeral Assistant / Maintenance

Andrew Graves has been employed with Ivie Funeral Home since 2023. A lifelong resident of Murphy, Andrew graduated from Cherokee County Schools and is presently working as a funeral assistant and maintenance. His hobbies include playing the guitar, fishing, and hiking.

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Laura Plemmons Office Staff

Laura joined our staff in September of 2023 working on the weekends. She is a lifelong resident of Murphy and a graduate of Tri-County Community College. Her husband is Jacob and they have three children. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family, reading, and she is a huge Tennessee Vols fan.

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Joe Kemper Funeral Assistant

Joe Kemper started at Ivie Funeral Home in March 2024. He was born and raised in Greenup County, Kentucky but has been living in East Tennessee since 1990. Joe graduated from Emory University and Candler School of Theology in Atlanta, Georgia. Joe is an ordained minister. and a licenced professional counselor, and has been serving at Rachel's Chapel in Copperhill, Tennessee since 2009. He has two sons and two daughters, Anthony, Malachi, Kristina, and Harmony Grace, and two granddaughters.

 

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Bob Penland Funeral Assistant

Bob Penland began working at Ivie Funeral Home in 2022. He is a 1982 graduate of Murphy High School. Bob is married to Gina Hughes Penland and he has five children, Shanna, Logan, Jessica, Madison, and Isabella and seven grandchildren. Bob enjoys fishing and hunting.

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John Bandy Event Coordinator

John Bandy is now our event coordinator after working with the Ivie Funeral Home for many years as a funeral attendant. He is now a licensed insurance agent. A native and lifetime resident of our area who graduated from Robbinsville High School and Western Carolina University, John served in the United States Navy and is a Vietnam veteran serving on the USS Sheldrake as Operations Officer and Hydrographic Officer and is currently a member of Amercian Legion Post 532. John retired after 30 years with Tri-County Community College as Dean of Academic and Student Development. He is a member of Notla Baptist Church. He is very active with the Gideons International serving currently as Chaplain. John is married to Sally and has two sons and four grandchildren.

John Ivie

Owner/ Licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer
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In moving forward with the third generation of family, John Ivie has assumed most of the day-to-day responsibilities at Ivie Funeral Home. John joined his parents in 2006 after receiving his Mortuary Science degree from Fayetteville Technical College. He is a licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer in North Carolina and Georgia and also holds an insurance license. He is also a crematory operator. John is a native of Cherokee County and a graduate of Murphy High School. He is married to Victoria Clark and has two daughters, Harper Pearl and Peyton Rhea, and a son, John Clark. 

Victoria Ivie

Licensed Funeral Director
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Victoria Ivie is a licensed funeral director for Ivie Funeral Home. She is a native of Kingsport, Tennessee and graduated from Washington & Jefferson College. Victoria is the granddaughter of Joan Dockery and the late Floyd Dockery. She is married to John Ivie and has two daughters, Harper Pearl and Peyton Rhea, and a son, John Clark. She attends Grape Creek Baptist Church. She is a college volleyball referree and enjoys quilting. 

Grier Ivie

Owner/ Licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer
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After more than 50 years in the funeral business, Grier Ivie is the most experienced Funeral Director in the area and is available to meet with families when necessary. He is also a licensed Embalmer and insurance agent. Grier is a native and lifetime resident of Cherokee County and graduated from Murphy High School and Dallas Institute of Funeral Service in Dallas, Texas. He is a lifetime member of Murphy First Baptist Church where he served as the Chairman of the Deacons. Grier is a member and past president of the Murphy Rotary Club. He is currently serving on the Board of Directors at Nantahala Bank. Grier feels as if his biggest accomplishment for the community was providing a modern funeral home facility to serve our local people. Grier is married to Pat Harper and they have four children and 13 grandchildren.

Pat Ivie

Owner/ Licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer
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Pat Ivie has made up the other half of Ivie Funeral Home for more than 50 years. She is a licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer, also graduating from Dallas Institute of Funeral Service in Dallas, Texas.  Pat was raised in Murphy and later graduated from Osborne High School in Marietta, Georgia. She is a member of Murphy First Baptist Church where she serves on the Personnel Committee. Pat serves on the Board of Directors at Nantahala Bank. Pat has four children and 13 grandchildren.

Troy Taylor

Licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer
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Troy Taylor is a compassionate funeral director and embalmer with licenses in North Carolina, Georgia, and Tennessee. A native of Cherokee County, who attended Murphy High School, Troy has dedicated years to the funeral industry and has been a licensed crematory operator since 2018. He earned his degree in Funeral Services from Fayetteville Technical College and holds additional certifications from the Fountain National Academy of Embalming Skills in postmortem reconstruction and the Professional Embalmers Institute. Troy also holds an insurance license. He is married to his wife, Kayla, and they have four children: Tori, Layla, Talia, and Ridge. Troy is deeply committed to supporting families during their times of need.

Justin Mack

Funeral Service Apprentice
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Justin Mack is a dedicated Funeral Service Apprentice studying embalming and funeral service at Fayetteville Technical College. Born in Boone, North Carolina and raised in Miami, Florida, Justin moved to the area in 1995. With a diverse background that includes roles as a local radio DJ and animal control officer, he now focuses on supporting families during their most challenging moments. In addition to his apprenticeship, Justin works as a crematory operator, combining his skills and compassion to provide comfort and care.

Stephanie James

Licensed Funeral Director and Insurance Agent
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Stephanie James has been a full-time employee of Ivie Funeral Home since 1984. She is a licensed Funeral Director and insurance agent. Stephanie was born in South Florida, but has lived in Murphy since 1979. She graduated from Murphy High School and Tri-County Community College. She earned her Mortuary Science degree from Fayetteville Technical College. Stephanie is a member of Peachtree Memorial Baptist Church. Stephanie loves the outdoors and home improvement projects. She is married to Edwin and has two step-children and five grandchildren.

Tamala Orton

Office Staff and Funeral Assistant
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Tamala Orton has been employed with Ivie Funeral Home since 2021. She is a native of Murphy and is married to Zack Orton. Tamala has a son, Levi and a daughter, Kelsey. She is a member of Mount Liberty Baptist Church, where her husband is the pastor. Tamala enjoys playing the piano and spending time with her family.

Andy Worley

Licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer
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Andy is a native and lifelong resident of this area. He graduated in 1973 from Murphy High School where he played football. He attended Gupton-Jones School of Mortuary Science in Atlanta and has worked in the funeral industry for more than 40 years.

His wife is Kathy and he has three children, Andrea, Branson, and Valerie.  He has five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Brian Jimmerson

Funeral Assistant / Maintenance
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Brian Jimmerson joined Ivie Funeral Home after spending 25 years in the gaming industry. He is a Florida native and attended the University of South Florida. He is a Microsoft Certified Network Engineer. Brian and his four daughters have been residents of Murphy since 2015. 

Andrew Graves

Funeral Assistant / Maintenance
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Andrew Graves has been employed with Ivie Funeral Home since 2023. A lifelong resident of Murphy, Andrew graduated from Cherokee County Schools and is presently working as a funeral assistant and maintenance. His hobbies include playing the guitar, fishing, and hiking.

Laura Plemmons

Office Staff
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Laura joined our staff in September of 2023 working on the weekends. She is a lifelong resident of Murphy and a graduate of Tri-County Community College. Her husband is Jacob and they have three children. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family, reading, and she is a huge Tennessee Vols fan.

Joe Kemper

Funeral Assistant
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Joe Kemper started at Ivie Funeral Home in March 2024. He was born and raised in Greenup County, Kentucky but has been living in East Tennessee since 1990. Joe graduated from Emory University and Candler School of Theology in Atlanta, Georgia. Joe is an ordained minister. and a licenced professional counselor, and has been serving at Rachel's Chapel in Copperhill, Tennessee since 2009. He has two sons and two daughters, Anthony, Malachi, Kristina, and Harmony Grace, and two granddaughters.

 

Bob Penland

Funeral Assistant
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Bob Penland began working at Ivie Funeral Home in 2022. He is a 1982 graduate of Murphy High School. Bob is married to Gina Hughes Penland and he has five children, Shanna, Logan, Jessica, Madison, and Isabella and seven grandchildren. Bob enjoys fishing and hunting.

John Bandy

Event Coordinator
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John Bandy is now our event coordinator after working with the Ivie Funeral Home for many years as a funeral attendant. He is now a licensed insurance agent. A native and lifetime resident of our area who graduated from Robbinsville High School and Western Carolina University, John served in the United States Navy and is a Vietnam veteran serving on the USS Sheldrake as Operations Officer and Hydrographic Officer and is currently a member of Amercian Legion Post 532. John retired after 30 years with Tri-County Community College as Dean of Academic and Student Development. He is a member of Notla Baptist Church. He is very active with the Gideons International serving currently as Chaplain. John is married to Sally and has two sons and four grandchildren.