Michael Ward Hartley

Michael Ward Hartley passed away peacefully on June 4, 2004, in Kimberly, Idaho. He was born on August 13, 1943, in Wigan, Lancashire, England, during World War II. He was the son of Clifford and Mary (Wilkinson) Hartley and the ninth of their 13 children.

The Hartley Family immigrated from England to the U.S. when Michael was six years old. He loved his adopted country, and after serving a two-year mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in his native England, he enlisted in the United States Air Force.

Following basic training, Mike’s first duty station was Sheppard Air Force Base in Wichita Falls, Texas. On Sundays, he attended church at the local LDS ward, where he met the love of his life, Pamela Hartley. 

Mike and Pam were sealed for time and eternity in the Salt Lake City Temple on August 23, 1966. They soon added Brent, Alan, Michelle, and Chris to their family, and the six of them traveled the world. 

During their more than 57 years of marriage, Pam and Mike lived in Texas five times, as well as Okinawa, Germany (Giesen and Frankfurt), Italy (Vicenza), California, Nebraska, Washington, Arizona, Utah, Mississippi, Oklahoma, and Idaho.

Mike completed his bachelor’s degree while stationed at Offutt Air Force Base in Omaha, Nebraska, and was soon commissioned as an officer in the United States Army. Michael cherished his military career and spent more than 22 years with the military — six years in the Air Force and 16 years in the Army. Mike retired as a Major from the Army in 1989.

Mike loved the physical aspect of his service. He often recalled running for miles in the Sinai Desert in Egypt and competing in—and often dominating—racquetball tournaments while serving Germany, Italy, and other duty stations. 

In the years following his retirement from the Army, Mike often went for long runs. During one season, while living in Clinton, Utah, he would ask Pam to come look for him in an hour, leave the house, and run toward the Great Salt Lake.

Mike transferred the medical facility administration skills he’d honed in the Army to civilian life and spent another two decades serving as head of Human Resources for several different hospitals across the heartland. He retired for a second time in 2018 at the age of 75 and spent his new-found free time in the company of Pam and their kids, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

During Mike’s military and professional career, he also completed two master’s degrees and was a dissertation shy of completing his doctorate degree.

In addition to his home and work lives, Mike spent countless hours of service in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Across the world, he served multiple times as a bishop, a member of district presidencies, a stake seventy, an assistant recorder in the Oklahoma City Temple, and many other callings. Mike loved to teach and share what he knew about his savior, Jesus Christ, and he loved the people around him. The people he served loved him back.

Michael was preceded in death by his beloved Pamela by only seven weeks. He was also preceded in death by his parents, Clifford and Mary Hartley, and by five of his siblings, Catherine Mabey, Joan Lund, Marion Quilter, Gordon, and Muriel Powers.

He is survived by his children, Brent (Alex), Alan (Camille), Michelle Woodland (Brian), and Chris (Misty). He is also survived by 17 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren and his siblings, Betty Homer, Doris Malm, Melvin, Philip, Ruth Robins, Dorothy Richards, and Carolyn McDonald.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday, June 13, 2024, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints building located at 3850 N 3500 E, Kimberly, ID 83341. Mike will be interred at the Snake River Canyon National Cemetery in Buhl, Idaho.