Leory Jackson Hartley

Leroy Jackson Hartley, born July 14, 1931, died peacefully at home, as he wished, on July 27, 2022, after an extended illness.  The oldest son of Howard Jackson Hartley, Jr. and Ruth Waters Hartley, he is survived by his wife of sixty-nine years and the love of his life, Mary Jacquelyn Hogsed Hartley,  by his children to whom he was Daddy, Phil and Lisa Ann Hartley, Hope and John Testement, Bruce and Christine (who predeceased him) Hartley, and Dan and Julie Hartley; by his grandchildren to whom he was Pop, Chris and Jennifer Hartley, Erin and Jonathan Reyes, Brandon Hartley, Olivia and Corey Patterson, Taylor Hartley and Aaron Boyles, Hallie Hartley and her fiancé, Scott Bader, Caleb Testement and Micah Testement, and by his great-grandchildren to whom he was G-Pop, Zachary, Noah, Susanna and Lucas Boeyink, Farah and Ryan Reyes.  He is also survived by a sister, Sylvia Head and a brother and sister-in-law, Wayne and Linda Hartley, plus nephews, nieces, cousins and extended family.  He was the oldest survivor of his many first cousins, a group sprung from Howard Jackson Hartley and Evie Wallace Hartley, still remembered at reunions and get togethers through many years.

Living most of his life in Gainesville, Georgia, he graduated from Gainesville High School and attended Truett-McConnell College before being summoned to the Army and then entering the general construction business working for companies in Atlanta and Athens.  In 1970, he returned to Gainesville with his family and founded Hartley-Slay Construction Company, succeeded by Hartley Construction Company in 1980.  Of the many fine buildings built and renovated by these companies he was prouder of none more than the current sanctuaries of First Presbyterian Church and First Methodist Church.  But his greatest accomplishment was his family, his son who succeeded him in the business and his sons and daughter who made their way with careers of their own, all of which made him proud.  Often, he pointed to putting all of his children through college and buying them all a new car (without debt for them or him) as his greatest achievement.

He served his God and his community in many ways, often as the constant presence to get things done and not the one making the speeches or leading the charge.  A Deacon and an Elder serving many terms at First Presbyterian Church, whose members were as essential a part of his pride as the structure itself.  He served as an officer and worker for the Salvation Army, the Metro Kiwanis Club of Gainesville, Habitat for Humanity, and many other appointed positions in local charities and government. Professionally he was active in the Association of General Contractors of Georgia and the Affinity Service Group.

In his memory, his family asks that donations be made to the Health and Housing Fund or the Sara Cochran Fund of First Presbyterian Church, so that his Church can continue to provide for others in need as it did for him and his family in his last years.  Sufficient thanks can never be expressed to Tywana Whelchel and Denise Stovall for the many nights they sat with our parents so that he could stay at home and we could take care of him the rest of the day.  We know that they adopted “Daddy” as their own and they will forever be a part of his family.    

Until the end of his life, he maintained a wry and dry sense of humor, that unexpectedly brought smiles and chuckles to family and those attending him.  But, most of all, he loved us and we loved him, as did so many of the people of his Church and his Community.  We will all miss him. 

A Celebration Of Life will be held at First Presbyterian Church, Gainesville, Ga. on August 2 at 2 o’clock P.M.  The family will receive friends immediately after the service in Sweetenburg Hall and the evening before on August 1 at Little-Davenport Funeral Home from 6-8 P.M.

Those wishing to send online condolences to the family may do so at littledavenport.com

Little & Davenport Funeral Home and Crematory, 355 Dawsonville Highway, SW, Gainesville, Georgia 30501 is in charge of arrangements.