News

By Emily J. Minor

Betty Ives, who for many years traveled seasonally between her beloved Michigan and her beloved Florida, died Aug. 5 after a fairly brief illness. She was 87.
Born March 3, 1923, outside Flint, Mich., Mrs. Ives — who often went by Betty MacDonald Ives — moved to Atlantis about 30 years ago upon the retirement of her first husband. When he died after 40-some years of marriage, she eventually married Gilbert Ives of Briny Breezes.
Mr. Ives said they had both lost their spouses around the same time and had known each other from church for many years.
“After a while, we got our heads together and got married,” said Mr. Ives, who said they were married seven years ago.
Although the couple spent much of their married time at Betty Ives’ Atlantis home, Mr. Ives kept his home at Briny Breezes. He said his wife loved coming there.
“She loved to swim in the ocean and she loved all the activities,” he said. “She always had a very friendly interest in everybody else.”
Mrs. Ives was active right up until the time of her illness, he said, and much of their life centered on their love for the Christian Science church, of which they were members.
“She loved music,” he said. “She played the organ for Sunday school.”
Mrs. Ives also had a home in Glen Arbor, Mich., and Mr. Ives said they spent summers at her home for many years, often the two of them driving themselves.
She was cremated and placed to rest in the family plot in Michigan, he said.
Survivors include one son, Gary MacDonald, a Washington, D.C., attorney, his wife and their two daughters.