John Henry Hartley
Oct. 28, 1936 - April 16, 2014
Born in Fernie, John Henry Hartley remained in the Elk Valley his entire life. He married Delores Rambold on November 12, 1960 and together they raised three children: Keith, Brad and Tammy. They witnessed their children grow, marry, and become parents themselves; Keith and Kathy Murray, Brad and Leona Davis, and Tammy and Eric Schmidt. John is not only survived by his wife and children, he also enjoyed five grandchildren: Lee, Sean and Shea Hartley, and Zachary and Rebecca Schmidt.
John worked various jobs throughout his life; most notably as a heavy equipment operator for the Department of Highways and for the Line Creek mine. While John worked hard at whatever job he was employed at, he played just as hard. He enjoyed the company of family and friends as well as several outdoor activities. In his earlier years he hunted with friends, and in his later years enjoyed fishing. A few of John’s favorite spots included White Swan Lake, Lake Koocanusa, and Newgate.
John was never one for long eloquent speeches; his used more of a direct approach. When John did speak, people listened. His wisdom and advice was always full of common sense and truth. John’s wisdom could be called the “working man’s wisdom”, full of experiences from a hard day at work and just as hard at play. He would never back down from any task, he would roll up his sleeves, (and his pant legs) and go to work. John was often heard saying “If you want something done right, it’s best to do it yourself.”
It was a rare occasion when you could escape the Hartley household without having at least a coffee. If the time of day was proper, John would offer more spirited refreshments. John and Delores shared their hospitality freely, often inviting drop-ins a meal or something to eat before they carried on their way.
In all, John’s life was well lived, in both principle and in practice. He took care of his family in a simple yet loving manner that could be best described as solid and strong. He was and is in many ways, still the anchor of the family.
Memorial donations may be made to the charity of the donor’s choice. Messages of condolence may be made at www.cherishedmemoriesfs.com Arrangements entrusted to Cherished Memories Funeral Services Ltd.