Joan Sweeney Hartley, of Gainesville, age 86, departed this world on October 5, 2019 at the E T York Hospice Care Center, surrounded by her loving family. She was born Florence Joan Sweeney on the 28th of June, 1933, in Hampton, Bradford County, Florida. She was the second of three girls from the union of Michael C. Sweeney and Edith May (Née Jones) Sweeney. Joan was a 1951 graduate of Bradford County High School.
Joan, along with her husband of 50 years, Thornton Lee Hartley, raised her three boys, David, Tom, and Joe on their five-acre plot of land in the Southwest section of Gainesville/Alachua County beginning in the early 1960’s. Joan worked as an accountant/fiscal assistant for several different companies and organizations throughout her life, including Crevasses’s Florist, Shands Hospital, and The University of Florida.
Joan was preceded in death by her father and her mother, by her husband, Thornton, in 2009, and by her sister, Norma May Sweeney. She was also preceded in death by Thornton’s brothers, who she grew to know and love as her own, William J. “Bill” Hartley, Jr. and Robert L. “Bob” Hartley.
Joan is survived by her son’s David (Rosanne) of Ocala, Thomas (Tan) of Gulf Breeze, and Joseph (Summer) of Gainesville; and by her sister, Connie Sweeney Parker of. Gainesville. She is also survived by her cousins, who were as sisters to her, Sylvia May Cox of Orange Park and Florrie Gnann Davis of Hampton.
Special joy came to Joan with the arrival of her grandchildren and great grandchildren. Her grandchildren are Brandy Michelle Christoph (Cody), James Thornton Hartley (Kaycie), Nicholas Farro II, Nina Michelle Farro, Mya Tran Hartley (Jim Yuan Hartley), Caitlin Leigh Hartley (Danny Gibble), Taelor Christine Hartley, Amber Nicole Hartley, Caroline Rebecca Hartley and William Maddox “Will” Hartley.
Her great grandchildren are Zachary Christoph-Medina, Hailey Joan Christoph, Ryan David Christoph, Tyler Harris Christoph, and Clark Christopher Hartley.
She had many nieces and nephews as well as great nieces and nephews, and each one had a unique place in her heart and was special to her.
Joan embodied the characteristics of selflessness and modesty. She modeled for others how to be giving and forgiving. She was always hospitable and showed a keen sense of humor. She displayed the traits talked about in Micah 6:8 when it said that one should act with justice, show mercy and kindness, and walk humbly with your God; these are all actions that were emblematic of Joan Hartley.
Joan enjoyed lunch almost every Thursday at Cracker Barrel with her sister, Connie Parker and breakfast almost every Monday at iHop with her good friend, Marion Lake.
Joan’s Earthly resting place will be at the Santa Fe Cemetery at Hampton Lake in Bradford County, Florida. Joan’s family would like to say “Thank You!” to the caregivers on the second floor PCU of North Florida Regional Medical Center and at The Haven E. T. York Hospice Care Center in Gainesville. The caregivers at both facilities took care of Joan in a genuine caring and loving way.
The viewing will take place at Milam Funeral Home, South Main Street in Gainesville on Friday evening, October 11 from 5 to 7. Graveside Ceremonies will be at The Santa Fe Cemetery in Hampton, Florida on Saturday, October 12, at 9:00 AM. The graveside ceremony will be followed by a Memorial Service at the Hartley Family Compound off Rocky Point in Southwest Gainesville. Arrangements are in the care of MILAM FUNERAL AND CREMATION SERVICES 311 S. Main Street Gainesville, FL 32601 (352) 376-5361 www.milamfh.com
