Robert Reed Hartley
Springfield, Missouri
Papa was born on July 14 in the recordhot summer of 1948 in Birmingham Alabama to JC and Imogene Hartley. JC had recently returned from his time as a Marine in World War II where he saw the American Flag raised at Iwo Jima. Papa often joked he was born down an old Alabama dirt road when in fact it was a brandnew neighborhood unpaved. Papa wanted us to remember that he was born the same year Israel became a nation. Growing up Papa was skinny and athletic with a strong humorous side. His friends called him Bones. Born with a gift for leadership and enterprise he had a go kart and charged kids in the neighborhood to ride it. He also started a phone company where he took two tin cans and connected them with a long wire so he could talk to the boy next door. Papa was…
