BANGOR - Richard C. “Dick” Hartley,76, died July 1, 2020, at local hospital. He was born September 16, 1943 at Craig Field Air Base in Selma, AL, the son of First Lieutenant Ralph Robertson and Barbara (Taylor) Hartley. He was raised in Bridgewater by his grandparents who adopted him, Samuel J. and Clara (Gardiner) Hartley.
Dick attended Bridgewater Classical Academy and graduated from Aroostook Center Institute, Class of 1962. He was a member of Future Farmers of America and served as Chapter President. His work career was spent in the construction industry, a skilled heavy equipment operator, he was known best for his work with Clewley Foundations and had a hand in constructing numerous residential or commercial building foundations statewide.
He was a regular at the counter early mornings at Nicky’s on Union Street in Bangor, sharing laughs with his many friends who gathered there. He was a lifetime member of the Elks Lodge in Bangor, serving as Exalted Ruler in 1976. Dick had a love of harness racing and was involved for over three decades as an owner and breeder. He served on the boards of Maine Standardbred Owners and Breeders Association, Maine Harness Horsemen’s Association. He owned Rajen Ridge Farm in Monmouth and Northstar Standardbreds in Newburgh. His horses won many awards, including Breeder of the Year for Pacers multiple times. He had a great love of farming and agriculture.
What he loved most of all was his family. Married to Linda (Smith) Hartley for 57 years, they had three children, Kelly, Sam and Andy. He was a dedicated husband and father, attending farm and little league games, swim meets and Boy Scouting events. He was a favorite with friends of his children who were always welcomed at his home. The role he relished most was being “Papa Dick”, his grandchildren Mathias, Claire, Josiah and Mason all benefited from his practical life teachings, sense of humor and unconditional love. He took great pride in all their many accomplishments and was generous with his time, his jokes and big hugs. He enjoyed family gatherings, good food, especially pies and sweets and time spent with friends. Everyone, even adults called him Papa Dick.
He will be missed and loved always by his wife, Linda Hartley; as well as daughter, Kelly Hartley Bickmore; son, Samuel Jesse Hartley, Andrew Stuart Hartley and wife, Ronda; his beloved grandchildren; Mathias Richard Bickmore, Claire Elisha Ryder and husband Craig, Josiah Taylor Hartley and fiancee, Haley McGee, and Mason Kyle Hartley.
He is additionally survived by his siblings; sisters, Patty Shubert and husband, Mark, Prudence Nathan and husband, Mike; brothers David Landry and wife, Connie, Gary Landry, Paul Landry and wife, Dera; as well as his extended family of brothers and sisters– in law, nieces, nephews and cousins, who were all incredibly special to him.
A graveside service will be held at Smith Cemetery, Bridgewater, later this summer. Those who wish to remember Papa Dick in a special way can make gifts in his memory to American Parkinson Disease Association, www.apdaparkinson.org or Honor Flight Maine, www.honorflightmaine.org/donations
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Richard Hartley, please visit our flower store.
Dick attended Bridgewater Classical Academy and graduated from Aroostook Center Institute, Class of 1962. He was a member of Future Farmers of America and served as Chapter President. His work career was spent in the construction industry, a skilled heavy equipment operator, he was known best for his work with Clewley Foundations and had a hand in constructing numerous residential or commercial building foundations statewide.
He was a regular at the counter early mornings at Nicky’s on Union Street in Bangor, sharing laughs with his many friends who gathered there. He was a lifetime member of the Elks Lodge in Bangor, serving as Exalted Ruler in 1976. Dick had a love of harness racing and was involved for over three decades as an owner and breeder. He served on the boards of Maine Standardbred Owners and Breeders Association, Maine Harness Horsemen’s Association. He owned Rajen Ridge Farm in Monmouth and Northstar Standardbreds in Newburgh. His horses won many awards, including Breeder of the Year for Pacers multiple times. He had a great love of farming and agriculture.
What he loved most of all was his family. Married to Linda (Smith) Hartley for 57 years, they had three children, Kelly, Sam and Andy. He was a dedicated husband and father, attending farm and little league games, swim meets and Boy Scouting events. He was a favorite with friends of his children who were always welcomed at his home. The role he relished most was being “Papa Dick”, his grandchildren Mathias, Claire, Josiah and Mason all benefited from his practical life teachings, sense of humor and unconditional love. He took great pride in all their many accomplishments and was generous with his time, his jokes and big hugs. He enjoyed family gatherings, good food, especially pies and sweets and time spent with friends. Everyone, even adults called him Papa Dick.
He will be missed and loved always by his wife, Linda Hartley; as well as daughter, Kelly Hartley Bickmore; son, Samuel Jesse Hartley, Andrew Stuart Hartley and wife, Ronda; his beloved grandchildren; Mathias Richard Bickmore, Claire Elisha Ryder and husband Craig, Josiah Taylor Hartley and fiancee, Haley McGee, and Mason Kyle Hartley.
He is additionally survived by his siblings; sisters, Patty Shubert and husband, Mark, Prudence Nathan and husband, Mike; brothers David Landry and wife, Connie, Gary Landry, Paul Landry and wife, Dera; as well as his extended family of brothers and sisters– in law, nieces, nephews and cousins, who were all incredibly special to him.
A graveside service will be held at Smith Cemetery, Bridgewater, later this summer. Those who wish to remember Papa Dick in a special way can make gifts in his memory to American Parkinson Disease Association, www.apdaparkinson.org or Honor Flight Maine, www.honorflightmaine.org/donations
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