Balva Aprans Hartley, 82, passed away peacefully on April 25, 2026.

Balva was born on August 24, 1943, in Jaunjelgava, Latvia. As a young child, she fled her homeland with her family in 1944 to escape the advancing Soviet occupation. They spent several years in Germany before immigrating to the United States in July 1949, eventually settling in Beverly, Massachusetts, where she grew up and graduated from Beverly High School. She later attended Fisher Junior College in Boston.

Balva began her career in the Boston area, working at Mitre Corporation, before relocating to Colorado Springs, where she worked at the Cheyenne Mountain Complex, home of NORAD. It was there that she met her future husband, Mike Hartley, who introduced himself in his unmistakable way: “I’m Mike from Jesup, like Jesus, but the last ‘S’ is a ‘P.’” They were married shortly thereafter on December 26, 1965, beginning a partnership that would span more than six decades.

Balva and Mike built a full and eventful life together, raising their family primarily in Douglasville, Georgia, where Mike founded his law practice in 1975. Never one to sit on the sidelines, Balva later took an active role in a local manufacturing business the couple acquired, ultimately running and helping turn it into a successful enterprise. Her independence, instincts, and no-nonsense approach were evident in everything she did.

Over the years, Balva and Mike lived in many places, sometimes jokingly more than most would consider reasonable, including Hilton Head Island, even for a time on their boat, as well as throughout the Atlanta area, including Stone Mountain, Chastain Park, Vinings, and Sandy Springs, along with Savannah, Lake Oconee, Bonita Springs, Florida, and elsewhere, eventually landing in Daniel Island, South Carolina. Wherever they were, Balva brought energy, personality, and a sense that life was meant to be fully lived.

Balva was irreverent, funny, and fiercely devoted to her family. She had a sharp wit, a strong sense of independence, and a remarkably accurate “BS meter.” Long before it was fashionable, she was deeply committed to her family’s health, driving out of her way to find health food stores and making things like homemade granola, bread, and yogurt. She was a protective and passionate “mama bear,” deeply emotional and unwavering in her love.

She also knew how to have fun. When Balva and her sister Vizma were together, they were unforgettable, two peas in a pod who brought laughter, energy, and a little bit of chaos wherever they went.

Balva was preceded in death by her parents, her sister, and her granddaughter, Hartley McInerney.

She is survived by her husband, Mike Hartley; her brothers, Richard Aprans and Karl Aprans; her children: Suzanne Abbot (Joey), Chris Hartley, Caroline McInerney, and Jonathan Hartley (Sara); and her grandchildren: Gunther, Hugo, Will, Margaret, Jett, Mac, Hank, and Kate. She leaves behind a family that reflects her strength, spirit, and deep love.

A private family service will be held to honor Balva’s life at a later date.