Ivan L. Cushing

Ivan Lavern Cushing, 75, of Greenleaf died December 14, 2010 at his home. The family received friends from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday, December 17 at the Ward Funeral Home in Greenleaf. Ivan, the son of James Jr. and Ethel (Unfred) Cushing was born on November 23, 1935 in Greenleaf, He graduated from Greenleaf High School and served in the U.S. Navy from 1955 to 1959 as a Damage Controlman. Preceding him in death are his parents; six brothers, Wayne, Don Dean, Bob, Kenny and Omar “Roy”; three sisters, Elma Cairns, Eula Headrick, and Beula in infancy; and a granddaughter, Wendi. He is survived by his children, Scott (Denise) Cushing of St. Mary’s, Clint Cushing of Greenleaf and Cyndi Cushing of Ft. Worth; and 2 grandchildren; 3 sisters Norma (Warren) Jackson of San Antonio, Texas, Maxine (Bruce) Harris of Sebring, Florida, and Doris Zemlicka, Wichita, and many nieces and nephews and countless friends. Ivan was the next-to-the-youngest of the Cushing Family. His older sisters dressed him up like a little girl once or twice because of his curly hair. He grew up in Greenleaf, KS, where he graduated high school in 1953. He enlisted in the United States Navy in 1955 and served on the USS Seminole as a damage controlman and was honorably discharged in 1959. He returned to the Greenleaf area and worked construction for his brother, Don Cushing, in Marysville. There he met and married Beverly Butler in July of 1960, and there he made many life-long friends. Baby Boy Scott Cushing arrived in April of 1961, and Ivan and family moved to Topeka, KS. A couple of years later Clint arrived. Ivan worked various construction jobs to continue to make ends meet. They then moved to Dover, KS. Several years later, Cyndi arrived. The family moved back to Marysville, KS for a couple of years in order for Ivan and Don to continue working together. Around 1975, the family decided to move back to Dover, where Ivan designed and built the house from scratch. Because Ivan didn’t “need any blueprints,” he built the house to resemble his sister Doris’s house. Ivan was volunteer fire fighter for the Dover Fire Department. In 1978, he became the coach of the Dover girls softball team. These girls were Clint’s classmates, and he led them to take first place! After the kids were all grown and gone, Ivan and Beverly went their separate ways. Ivan worked and lived in several locations, performing carpentry work and being a helpful neighbor wherever he went. He even lived next door to Cyndi while she went to college in Manhattan. He helped Cyndi get through college, and became a friend and second Dad to many of her friends. Ivan retired to Greenleaf, KS, to be near his family. He wanted to be close by his sister Elma and his brother Dean. He remained close with all of his brothers and sisters by phone and by mail. He watched a lot of Clint Eastwood westerns and collected Navy memorabilia surrounding his family’s naval history. He was a man of simple pleasures who enjoyed his freedoms. He liked hunting and fishing, coaching girls softball, mowing the lawn in his “Daisy Duke” shorts, drinking Coors, chewing on cigars, and smoking cigarettes. He liked being barefoot and shirtless. He helped others out when they needed a hand. Ivan will be remembered by many as a fair quiet gentleman that loved his family and friends. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Ivan L. Cushing, please visit our flower store.