Ira Mallory

Ira E. Mallory passed peacefully to Heaven at 11:45pm on December 24th at Alliance Health Center at the age of 89.  Ira was the elder son of a set of identical twins born July 23, 1930 to Grace A. (Malone) Mallory and Ira M. Mallory in Ponca City Hospital.

In high school, Ira and his twin Earl, both played the clarinet in the PoHi Big Blue Band.  After graduation on August 20, 1948, Ira married the love of his life, Bette C. Matheson at Harbor Light Temple in Ponca City.  They enjoyed 67 years before Bette passed in 2016.  To this union, three sons blessed the home, Ira David, Steven Michael, and Timothy Mark.  Tim passed in 1974 at age 16.

The Mallory’s were members of the Assembly of God faith; Ira taught Sunday School, sang in the church choir, and played saxophone in the orchestra.  He participated in sports including softball, racquetball, weight lifting, and running marathons.  He owned motorcycles most of his adult life, traveling all over the U.S. and into Canada and Mexico.

He was indentured as an electrician apprentice in 1951 and became a journeyman for Braker Electric and Welborn Electric.  He became the Business Manager for IBEW Local 444 in 1966 and served in that office until retirement in 1990.  After retirement Ira and Bette moved to Sun City, Arizona where they remained until 2014 due to ill health.  While in Arizona, he played and coached softball and bowling teams.  He also served as an usher in the Arizona Diamondback home games.

He is survived by sons, David and Steve, both of Ponca City, daughter-in-law Vickie (Steve) Mallory, five grandsons, two granddaughters, and several great grandchildren.

Ira was preceded in death by his parents, wife Bette, son Tim, and numerous aunts and uncles.

A Graveside Service will be held in Ira’s honor at 2pm on Friday, December 27, at the Longwood Cemetery.  Services are under the direction of Grace Memorial Chapel.

Messages of condolence and words of encouragement may be left online at www.gracememorialchapel.net.