Reflections

The Reverend Iva Lee Corley Sr. made his transition from this life on Thursday August 4, 2022.  He had a long and colorful life. He leaves a host of family and friends to cherish his memories.

He was born to Robert and Ludie (Jones) Corley in Hazlehurst, Mississippi, on March 21, 1930. He was one of eighteen children born of this union. His strong moral and work ethic came from his strict upbringing.

 Reverend Corley moved to Michigan City, Indiana in the early 1950’s from Hazlehurst, Mississippi with his young family. He worked hard to take care of his children and raise them respectfully. Reverend Corley made sure that all his children learned the value of hard work.  He was one of the first exterminators in Northwest Indiana in the 1950’s, this was one of several businesses that he ran successfully with the help of his family. In the 1970’s Reverend Corley was called to preach and led many to Christ during his years of service to the Lord as a Pastor at Mount Moriah Missionary Baptist Church from 1987 until 2016. Reverend Corley with the help of his family, owned Corley Car Wash, Corley Corner store, Multiple properties, and a cleaning service. He was also a welder at Pullman Standard for more than 20 years.

The Great Reverend Iva Lee Corley Sr. was promoted to Glory on August 4, 2022. He was preceded in death by his parents: Robert and Ludie Corley, his children: Les Worlds, Larry Corley, and Angela Corley, four stepchildren: and siblings: Robert Corley, William Hubert Corley, Mayme Katherine Clay, Percy Howard Corley Sr., Mertus Corley Sr., Ozell Corley Sr., Larry Corley, Louis Corley, Willie Edward Corley, Carolyn Williams, and Jean Washington.

A Celebration of Life will be Saturday, August 13, 2022 at 1pm at New Hope Missionary Church 730 W. 6th St. Michigan City, Indiana 46360 with Pastor Keith D. Witherspoon to do Eulogy. Viewing will be from 12 noon until time of service at the Church. A Wake will be held Friday, August 12, 2022 from 4 to 7pm at Mt. Moriah Missionary Baptist Church 418 Ridgeland Ave. Michigan City, Indiana 46360. Burial to take place Monday, August 15, 2022 at Swan Lake Memorial Gardens at 1pm.

He is survived by his wife: Floretha Corley, of Michigan City, IN; 8 children: Iva Corley, Jr., Dennis Corley of Louisiana; Anthony (Denise) Corley of Virginia; Vannette (Tim) Alexander of California; Phillip Corley of Indiana; Peter (Yolanda) Corley of Oklahoma; Belinda (Miles) Lee and Marty Corley, both of Indiana;  6 siblings: Evelyn Jones of Illinois; Tom Corley of Indiana; Linda Corley of Georgia; Marilyn (Roosevelt) McGee of Illinois; Odell Daniel and Dorothy (Sonny) Boyd all of California; 7step-children: thirty-two grandchildren, a special niece: Vanessa Corley and special friend: William McFerson, along with a host of great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews, cousins, Church family, and friends,  all of whom he loved very much.

Reverend Corley’s smile, love, encouragement, and laughter will be sorely missed by all that knew him.