Clara Marie Hartley

Clara Marie Hartley, Louisville, KY, passed away on July 11th, 2018 at Louisville Hosparus Health Inpatient Care Center at the age of 78. Clara was born on February 24, 1940 to Frank Leslie and Lula Catherine Crompton. She was educated in the Jefferson County School system and attended Ahrens Vocational Trade High School. She studied Home Economics and became passionate about all things related to managing a household and raising a family. Clara met and married a young Marine named Thomas Hartley. Together they started a life with little more than their hearts full of love for each other. That love would one day bring them the joy of seven children, eight grandchildren, and four great grandchildren. After decades of happiness and good health, Clara fell prey to a massive stroke. Miraculously she survived, but needed care. Over the last nine years of her life, Clara survived the stroke, open heart surgery, and breast cancer. With God's amazing grace and her husband's love and devotion, she was able to see her grandchildren grow to adults and meet, hold, and love her four great grandchildren. Clara loved her children! She loved her babies so much that she had seven of them. When her babies were no longer babies, she worked at Mother's Day Out to be around more babies. She was overjoyed when her babies started to have babies and she was blessed with seven grandbabies to hold and love. Clara's first grandson Michael named her Nanny, and from that point forward, that was her new name. In her later years God blessed her with four great grandbabies , bringing immense joy and love into her life. Nanny was at her absolute best and her happiest when surrounded by her family. Clara is survived by her faithful, loving, and devoted husband Thomas Hartley; daughter Catherine (Dave) Miller; son William (Matty) Hartley; very special niece Claire (Steve) Gaffney; son James Hartley; daughter Patricia Johnston; and son David (Jeanette) Hartley. She is also survived by her grandchildren; Michael Hartley, Christopher Johnston, Hannah Hartley, Jeffrey Miller, Rebecca Miller, Jenna Johnston, Nichole Moreland, Lily Moreland, grandniece Katie Escudero, and grandniece Stephanie Gaffney. Clara's surviving great grandchildren are; Clara Hartley, Grant Hartley, Brody Miller, Knox Hartley, and great-great nephew Joey Escudero. Clara was preceded in death by her parents Frank Leslie and Lula Catherine Crompton. Clara was also preceded in death by two sons, Timothy Hartley and Thomas Hartley; her son-in-law James Johnston; her three sisters, Frances Younger, Peggy Ford, and Lu Ella Hartley; and her three brothers, Raymond Crompton, Leslie Crompton, and Jerry Crompton. Funeral mass will be Monday at 10 A. M. at St. Peter the Apostle 5431 Johnsontown Road with burial in Bethany Cemetery. Visitation will be Sunday at Owen Funeral Home 5317 Dixie Highway at 2 P.M. until 8 P.M. Donation can be made to Hosparus of Louisville.

Clara Marie Hartley

February 24, 1940 - July 11, 2018