A love story until the end

Doris Dean (Porter) Hartley passed away in Salem, OR on Wednesday, January 16, 2024, after 4-1/2 years of battling with dementia.

Doris was born in Truckee, CA on November 15, 1934. Her husband Johnny Frank Hartley passed away February 25, 2023. He was born in Floyd, Texas on April 9, 1933. He battled with Alzheimers for three years and other medical conditions.

Johnny and Doris met in 1951 and were married in 1952 in Reno, NV. Their 71 year marriage truly exemplified a life long love story.

Their first son, Randy was born in March 1952. Randy preceded them in death. Their second born son, Robby was born in February 1954. Then they had three other children, Rhonda born November 1956, Raymond was born in 1960 who also preceded them in death. Renee was born in November 1962.

Johnny and Doris’s children were their pride and joy. Together they gave Johnny and Doris nine grandchildren: Ian, twins Aaron and Hannah, Joshua, Krystal, Joel, Gabriel, Naomi and Esther and 10 great grandchildren.

Johnny owned his own electrical business in Alturas, “Hartleys Electric.”

In 1967, Johnny and Doris moved to Santa Rosa, CA then to Graton, CA in 1968. Johnny served on the school board at Pacific Christian Academy, where their children attended school. He also served as a deacon and elder at the church they attended.

Doris became a school bus driver at Pacific Christian Academy. She served in other capacities in the school office and cafeteria. Doris was involved in many fundraising events for the school, making her famous fruit turnovers that her mom, Sally Porter taught her to make. Johnny also repaired the school buses that Doris drove and other buses as well.

Johnny worked in the electrical business for the City of Healdsburg, CA as a construction inspector at Mare Island Naval base and spent some time in Germany, Korea, and Turkey during that job assignment. He also worked for several other companies in hospital and hotel construction, earthquake repair and power generator installations and as a resident engineer.

For many of these jobs, Johnny and Doris lived in their 32-foot motorhome. They enjoyed the adventure of motorhome living. They loved visiting Lake Tahoe and the ocean, attending car races on weekends, traveling to Doris’ clogging conventions, where she would dance her feet off. In earlier years, Doris enjoyed teaching baton twirling to her own daughter and a team in Alturas. Together they loved and served God and lived and loved well.

Doris was preceded on death by her parents Mike and Sally Porter of Alturas. Johnny parents Houston and Ada Hartley of Texas preceded him in death.

A joint celebration of their lives will be held 10:30am on Saturday, April 27, 2024 in Keizer, OR at the Keizer Church of Christ. The family asks in lieu of flowers that donations be made to Rosewood Court Memory Care in Salem, OR. For information contact Renee Gunselman at 541-619-2353. Sweet Home Funeral Chapel is handling arrangements. www.sweethomefuneral.com