Eileen O’Connor Hartley, who was born on Feb. 14, 1945, as the daughter of John J. O’Connor and Doris R. O’Connor, died of Alzheimer’s disease on Aug. 28. This cruel disease took from us someone who loved to read, played the piano wonderfully, and who remembered everything.
Mrs. Hartley is survived by husband of 53 years, Dean S. Hartley III; daughters Theresa H. Nelson (Eric), Elise H. Henderson (Brian), and Elise’s three children, Caroline, Clare, and Maggie.
Mrs. Hartley graduated from Duke University in 1966 with a bachelor’s degree in English. She earned her master’s degree in English in 1968 from the University of Georgia. She also completed all the coursework for a Ph.D. in English from UGA. She taught English composition over the years at various colleges and universities, including Georgia State University, Northern Virginia Community College, UGA, the University of South Carolina, La Grange College, and Roane State Community College.
Mrs. Hartley followed her husband as he moved. This included living in the Washington, D.C., area while he was in the U.S. Army, and Spartanburg, S.C., and La Grange, Ga., when he worked for Milliken Inc. Then they moved to Oak Ridge when he was hired by Oak Ridge National Laboratory in 1986. In each city, she found a place to teach, as she loved teaching.
In the early 1990s, she served as co-chair for voter service for the Oak Ridge Chapter of the League of Women Voters and was in the 1990 Leadership Oak Ridge class. She also worked as a tutor for the Anderson County Literacy Council and as a volunteer in the Oak Ridge schools, working with elementary students in reading.
Mrs. Hartley loved to travel; She and her husband traveled all over the United States and Europe, and even visited Africa, Australia, and New Zealand.
Mrs. Hartley was a “cradle Catholic” and regularly attended church wherever she lived. In Oak Ridge, this was St. Mary Church, where she was an active member of the Bible study group. These good friends supported each other through their child-rearing years and beyond. Bible Study members Roxy Benning, Jane Carter, Marion Cooney, Peg Gruzalski, Joan Kearney, Judy Osucha, Becky Rushton, Linda White, and Diane Wright provided great aid and comfort during her final illness. Mrs. Hartley also attended St. Stephen Episcopal Church for many years with her husband and had many good friends there, too.
A memorial service was held at St. Stephen Episcopal Church on Sept. 6, and a private inurnment service was held later at St. Mary Church. Donations in Mrs. Hartley’s memory may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, St. Mary Church, or St. Stephen Church.