Leo F. Ivory

Leo Francis Christopher Ivory, 90, died Tuesday at his residence near Ashville. He was born in Altoona, son of Zerbee and Cora (Baughman) Ivory.

On Nov. 26, 1965, he married Sandra Kay Lobb, who survives, along with two children, Christopher Leo (Susan Brundage) of State College and Heather Lynn Ivory (James Beebe) near Patton, grandson Jacob Leo Beebe, and granddaughter Ava Rae Beebe. He is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews, all holding a special place in his heart.

He was preceded in death by an older brother, Joseph Edmund of Altoona (2013), and two older sisters, Alice Scoboria of Englewood, FL (2016) and Adaline Cassarly of Altoona (2021).

He graduated from Altoona High School in 1949 and began working for the Altoona Engraving Company. In 1986, he and four other co-workers started their own company, Altoona Graphics. He retired in 1997.

Leo’s true passion was the beauty and comfort he found in nature. He loved to garden, loved to keep his many bird feeders filled, enjoying all the birds (and sometimes bears) that visited. His rural home and land that surrounded it was all he ever wanted, never getting bored with ‘just being home’. He would often sit on the front porch to enjoy a summer thunderstorm, or on his favorite companion, a John Deere tractor, seeing the leaves fall from the many trees he planted, watching the snow pile up, or hearing the birds announce that they were back for another season.

He was a great tinkerer, always up for a challenge to fix anything, from toys, model airplanes, rockets, bikes to jewelry, which earned him his toddler grandson’s nickname, “Grandpa-do” when he needed his toy repaired. He will be remembered for his great sense of humor too…even as his health and mind declined, he managed to keep those around him laughing.

At Leo’s request, his family will celebrate and remember his life. In memory of Leo, enjoy a walk in the woods, or listen to an Irish tune, maybe adopt a pet, and always be kind to one another.

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