Dena Ivie 77, of Abilene passed away Thursday, June 20, 2024. Visitation will be held June 25, 2024 from 5-7PM at North's Funeral Home. Cremation to follow Visitation with a Memorial Service at a later date. Memorial Service will be held June 26, 2024 at North Fifth and Grape St. Church of Christ 433 Grape St. Abilene, Texas, 2:00PM. Dena was born January 26, 1947 in Ballinger, Texas, to Thomas Eldon Holley and Keva Lou (Hays) Holley. She went to school in Ballinger, then in Wellington, Childress, and back to Ballinger. In 1965 she graduated from High School in Ballinger where she was active in the band. After graduation she attended McMurry University for a time. On February 26, 1966, she was married to Tom Hall Griffin who was in the United States Air Force. They were stationed in the Philippines for a time. While in the Philippines, her oldest children were born. Kimberly Lyn and Timothy Luke. Kim was born first and was the dominant twin in their childhood. Then, when they were stationed at Whiteman AFB in Missouri, Samuel Matthew was born. Later in Winters, Texas, Amanda (Mandi) Lou was born. Dena's first marriage ended in 1983. She moved to Abilene, Texas with her four young children and began her difficult single life. She well balanced her student work, her children and providing a living. She received her BA from Hardin-Simmons University Magna Cum Laude the same year her oldest children graduated from high school. She ended up with only one "B" in her four years of college. That was in a P. E. Class, where she had a commitment to her children and could not finish the long final exam. Upon graduation from college, Dena worked with various groups until she was hired by Sears Methodist home (now Wisteria Place) to be Alzheimer's Resource Director. She read all she could and became very experienced in this. She went about to various places and gave presentations to Nursing homes and other groups. While working at Sears Methodist Home, Dena met Charles Ivie. They met in December, 1990. Charles lived in Dunn, Texas. He drove to Abilene quite frequently. So began a courtship that culminated in marriage on June 1, 1991. Charles had two adopted daughters, Sharleen Michelle and Amanda Gayle. Amanda lived with Dena and Charles for a time, but she chose to go to her mother. Dena and Charles considered all six children as "ours." Dena was an accomplished pianist and organist. She made extra money while she was in high school by playing at funerals. Though she loved to play, the arthritis in her hands began to hinder her playing so she became a little "rusty," and didn't play very much. She did enjoy music. She and Charles went to nursing homes and sang and played old country and folk songs for the residents. In 1994, Charles began preaching full-time. He preached in: Clayton, New Mexico; Arkansas City, Kansas; Wilson, Oklahoma; Tatum, New Mexico; and Abilene, Texas. Dena was a wonderful preacher's wife. She taught children's Bible classes and Ladies' Bible classes until she could no longer do that. Dena loved God and His Son Jesus Christ. She was baptized into Christ on August 25, 1991 at the Fifth and Grape church of Christ in Abilene, Texas. She has served faithfully since then. Next to the Lord she loved her husband. Next to her husband she loved all their children. She was diagnosed with Lewy-body Dementia in early 2024. This progressed rapidly until she had to be placed in a Memory Care facility in April, 2024. Dena's spirit departed from her body on June 20, 2024 Dena was preceded in death by her parents. She is survived by her husband Charles, 6 children, Kim and husband Chris Turner of Topeka, KS; Tim Griffin and his wife Dina of Abilene, TX; Sam Griffin and his wife Stacy of Bryan, TX; Mandi and her husband Eric Lewis of Sherman, TX; Sharleen Halbert of Tupelo, MS; and Amanda and her husband Eddie Brooks of Tupelo, MS. 2 sisters, Jackie Henry of Ovalo, TX and Joy and her husband Ernie Vazquez of Laredo, TX. 2 uncles, Gordon Hays and his wife Lenell and Eugene Robertson of Bedford, TX. 13 grandchildren. The family would like donations to be made to Tennessee Bible College, 1616 McCulley Road, Cookeville, TN 38506. Or, Holiday Hill Nursing Home, Allen Center, Coleman, TX , and any dementia research that people choose. Online Condolences may be made at www.northsfuneralhome.com