About 30 relatives have traveled from Utah, home state of slain Border Patrol agent Nick Ivie and his widow, Christy, to help the family, Ivie's brother said Thursday.
Chris Ivie and his brother Rick, two of Nick's four siblings, spoke at a news conference at Cochise College in Sierra Vista. Nick was the youngest of the four brothers and one sister from Utah, Chris said.
Recalling Nick's Mormon mission to Mexico City and his work as a volunteer firefighter and paramedic in Utah, Rick said, "He lived his life as a life of service."
He also followed a brother into law enforcement. Joel Ivie joined the Border Patrol in 2003 and sometimes worked with Nick. Joel attended the news conference but did not speak because of his position with the agency.
"We have a large family, a large extended family as well, and they've been a great support," Rick Ivie said.
Chris Ivie added, "The hardest part is going to be when this all settles down and everyone goes away."
Nick Ivie, 30, was an active, loving father to his two daughters, Chris said. He had a bicycle with two trailers for the girls, ages 4 and 1.
"Nick loved his kids, and it's difficult when they ask for their dad and you can't explain it that well," Chris said.
About 130 people, including some of the agent's relatives as well as Customs and Border Patrol agents, attended an ecumenical vigil Thursday evening at St. Michael's Mission in Naco.
The vigil was held to show support for the family and to pray for all who are grieving Ivie's death, said Steff Koeneman, a spokeswoman for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Tucson.
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SERVICES SET
Visitation for U.S. Border Patrol Agent Nick Ivie is set for Sunday in Sierra Vista, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Hatfield Funeral Home, 830 S. Highway 92.
A funeral service is set for Monday at 10 a.m. at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 2100 E. Yaqui St., Sierra Vista.
In addition, the funeral will be shown on closed-circuit television at several other locations of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints: 1655 Ave del Sol in Sierra Vista; 1000 Taylor Drive in Sierra Vista; 611 Melody Lane in Bisbee; and 2800 15th St. in Douglas.
NAPOLITANO VISITS TODAY
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano is scheduled to travel to Arizona today to offer condolences to the Ivie family. The former Arizona governor will be accompanied by Customs and Border Protection deputy commissioner David Aguilar and will meet with law enforcement officials in Bisbee to discuss the ongoing investigation.
Reporter Carmen Duarte contributed to this report. Contact reporter Tim Steller at tsteller@azstarnet.com
