of Searcy, AR

May 7, 1933 - January 24, 2024

Ira Gene Ashley, age 90, passed away peacefully on January 24th in Searcy, AR. Ira was born on May 7, 1933 in Athelstan, Arkansas. He was the son of Irvin & Helen Ashley. Ira was a graduate of Keiser High School and attended Northwest College in Senatobia, MS. He married Shirley Baker on December 27, 1953. They were married for 66 years. He served in the United States Navy for two years and the Marines for two years during the Korean War. He was a farmer and land owner and later became a real estate broker and appraiser. Ira was a lifelong member of the Methodist Church where he served on the board of trustees, finance committee, building committee and pastor/parish committee in Garden Point, Osceola and Heber Springs. Ira was also a lay caregiver in the Stephen Ministry and helped with the Wounded Warriors Project and the Boy Scouts. He was past president of the Mississippi County Farm Bureau, an original board member of the Little River Water Association, past president of the Northeast District Soil Conservation Board, past member of both the State of Arkansas and the Mississippi County Soil Conservation Boards and served of the board of directors of the Heber Springs Rotary Club, where he received the Paul Harris award for outstanding monetary support. Ira was preceded in death by his wife, parents and one sister, Mary Louise Colbert. He leaves his daughters, Sharon (David) Warren of Hot Springs Village and Anita (Charles) Davis of Searcy; grandchildren, David (Hannah) Warren Jr of Jonesboro; Daniel (Andrea) Warren of Fayetteville; Hannah (Mark) Kimbrough of Katy, TX and Mallory (Jordan) Morris of Searcy and great grandchildren, Caroline Warren, Molly Kate Warren, David George Warren III, Wade Warren, Cameron Warren, Cooper Morris, Charlie Morris and Miley Kimbrough. He also leaves his brother, Irvin Ashley Jr, of Grandbury, TX; one sister-in-law, Rosemond Brown of Morton, IL and one brother-in-law, James Colbert of Jonesboro.

Obituary Provided By:
Roller-Swift Funeral Home
Highway 61 South
Osceola, AR  72370
www.rollerfuneralhomes.com