Obituary: Iva Decker Hartman

Iva Decker Hartman "What an amazing woman!" 1917 ~ 2005 Iva Decker Hartman, 89, recently joined her friends and family for a festive gathering on the other side. Iva suffered from strokes, which confined her to a wheel chair for the past 18 years, but she refused to let go of this life. She lived to raise seven children in the gospel. Nothing mattered more to her than being a mother. Iva was born on October 14, 1917 in Snowflake, Arizona where her body will be returned for a grave-side service in Taylor, Arizona. She lived most of her life in Long Beach, California (a place she called "Heaven on Earth") where she taught early-morning seminary to each of her children and their peers for 25 years. "I just wanted them to know the gospel!" Iva served a mission to the North-Eastern States and later taught school. She met her late husband William Hartman at a dance in California where he was stationed during World War II as a fighter pilot in the Air Force. Iva was known for her keen intellect ("I love to read"), high energy, ("I hope we don't have to waste time cooking or eating in heaven"), many friends ("I love having people around") and her commitment to her family ("They grow up too fast!") She is survived by her children Carol (Evan), Bill Jr. (Sandy), Taylor (Jean), Paul (Pam), Bev (Lyle), Steve (Regina), and Larry (Burna), and 30 grandchildren. Welcome home mom. We wish you freedom from your physical impairments. We love you and look forward to walking unto you again.