Alva was born to parents Alvin and Mable Burrous in their home on September 30th, 1953, with her twin brother Leonard, in Boicourt, Ks. At two years old, she moved with her family to Merwin, Mo., where she spent her childhood.
While attending Miami High School, Alva played clarinet in the band and sang in the choir. She graduated in 1971.
She met the love of her life John Hartman and in November 1972, a year after they met, Alva and John were married at the Merwin Christian Church. Together they had two sons, Justin (born on November 14, 1978) and Jeremy (born on February 24, 1981), both of whom Alva was so proud of and loved with her whole heart.
The Hartman family lived out in the country for many years before settling down for a life in Drexel, Mo., where they raised their sons from adolescence on. Alva spent her life in the food service industry and became a staple figure around Drexel as a beloved "Lunch Lady." She took great care of all the kids at school, but she also loved tormenting and joking around with them. And they dished it right back to her, which she also loved.
Alva loved so many things. Horses, of course, but also tropical fish, animals of all kinds, beaches, Chinese food, and going on adventures with her best friend Ruby. After her children were grown, Ruby and Alva would take off on adventures driving with no destination in mind. Often, when they would come to a fork in the road, they would flip a coin to see where to go. Simple pleasures brought Alva so much joy.
Above all, though, Alva loved her granddaughters more than anything else. Salem, Josie and Sadie, you were the wind in her sails.
To know Alva was to be unconditionally loved by her. She was Grandma Alva to so many. She was just one of those people who loved easily and was easy to love. It was built into her to love, to accept, and to welcome, anyone, always. Her home was full of animals who needed care--the elderly, the sickly, the orphans--whomever needed her, she was there. She didn't care who you were or what you looked like or where you fit into the puzzle of her life. She just loved you. She had a place at the table for you, or a spot on her couch, or a chair in the garage or in the driveway. She just wanted you around, and when you came, she let you know how glad she was that you were there.
Alva May Hartman was truly a master class in unconditional, relentless love.
Alva is preceded in death by her parents Alvin and Mable, and her brothers Kenneth and Leonard, and is survived by her husband John Hartman of (Drexel, Mo.), sons Justin Hartman (Overland Park, Ks.) and Jeremy Hartman (Dr. Leslie Michaud, Kansas City, Mo.), sister Barbara Burrous Lee (Garnett, Ks.), her daughter-in-law Kristen Hartman (Drexel, Mo.) and 3 very beloved granddaughters, Salem Deel (Kansas City, Mo.), Josie Hartman (Drexel, Mo.) and Sadie Irvin (Drexel, Mo.)
"You belong among the wildflowers...You belong somewhere you feel free."
Please find solace in knowing that Alva will go where the good ones go.
