MARCH 29TH, 1940 – SEPTEMBER 17TH, 2026
In the Care of Cason Monk-Metcalf Funeral Directors
John Lee Hartley, 86, passed away from natural causes on September 17, 2026, at Colonial Pines Healthcare Center in San Augustine, Texas. He was a beloved son, father, grandfather, and friend.
John was born on March 28, 1940, in Mobile, Alabama, to Jack Reginald Hartley and Dora Lee Horton. He moved to Texas in early childhood and later served his country for six years in the United States Navy.
In 1965, John married Nancy Sue Lynch, and they had a son, Richard Lee Hartley. Following Nancy’s passing, he married Nelda Leatrice Armstrong, and they had a daughter, Lea Ann Hartley Dunklee. He later married Yvonne Fairley.
John worked for many years at Southwestern Bell Telephone Company and also worked in security at Stephen F. Austin State University. He enjoyed being an amateur radio operator and tinkering with electronics and machinery. His interests reflected his curiosity and love of figuring out how things worked.
Although John also lived in Mississippi, Nacogdoches, Texas, held a special place in his heart. He loved living there and called it home for many years.
John is survived by his son, Richard Lee Hartley; his daughter, Lea Ann Hartley Dunklee; and his three grandsons, John David Dunklee, Alexander James Hartley, and Ryan Kirk Dunklee.
He will be buried in the community cemetery associated with Nat Church on FM 343 in Nacogdoches County, Texas.
He will be lovingly remembered and missed by his family and friends.