Iva Mahr was born March 4, 1939 to the union of Ruth Gayton and Felton Gayton she was the only child. She has six children which three proceeds her in death Donna Mahr, David Mahr and Ronnie Mahr. She leaves behind three daughters Sharon, Rhonda and Linda Mahr. As a young girl growing up in South Dakota she loved being outside in nature she love the wild , she was raised on a farm where they grew their on food. She later moved to St. Louis Missouri where she attended St.louis Public School District and attended Sumner High School where she would meet her husband Ronald Mahr who she proceeds in death. IVA loved the outdoors and loved taking her children on weekends camping trips to Clearwater Lake in Piedmont Missouri which 2 hours away then has her grandkids started coming about we would go to Carlye Lake, Illinois