FINLEY, Ivan Francis

The Verde Independent, Cottonwood, AZ January 14, 2007 Former Sedona Mayor Ivan Francis Finley, 81, died Jan. 8, 2007, at his home in Sedona. Ivan was born in Curtis, Neb., on Dec. 14, 1925, and lived for most of his youth in Oregon. He served in the Army Air Corps in 1945. He married Thelma A. Kinslow on Jan. 4, 1945, and their 62nd wedding anniversary had just passed before he died. In his professional life Ivan was manager of multiple stores of the J.C. Penney Company in the Bay area and Stockton, Calif. The Finleys moved to Sedona in 1978, and he managed Sunset Mobile Home Park. He was managing broker for Foothills Real Estate for many years and retired in 2000. Ivan was very active in civic affairs and local politics. He had belonged to and served in leadership of the Sedona Mid-Day Rotary Club and Rotary Club of the Red Rocks, Sedona-Verde Valley Association of Realtors, Sedona Men's Republican Club, and Citizens for an Alternate Route (CFAR). Finley was elected to Sedona city council in May 1992, winning in a recall election. He was elected again in March 1994. He served as mayor of Sedona from May 1996 until June 1998. Ivan's hobbies and pastime included reading American history, writing a political column, cooking, hunting, and family genealogy. He was a counselor and mentor to many candidates, office holders, and friends. He had been diagnosed with Inclusion Body Myositis many years ago, which prevented him from walking, but was seen regularly cruising on his scooter in Uptown Sedona and the neighborhood. Ivan Finley is survived by his wife, Thelma; daughters Elizabeth Ernst (Jerry) of Lodi, Calif., and Victoria Williams of El Cajon, Calif.; son Terry Finley (Jami) of Queen Creek; six grandchildren, two step-grandchildren, and one great-granddaughter. A memorial celebration will be Friday, Feb. 2, at 3 p.m. at St. John Vianney Catholic Church in Sedona.