Pamela Lee Hartley

Pamela Lee Hartley passed away peacefully in her home in Hansen, Idaho, on Monday, April 15, 2024. She was born November 3, 1947, in Port Arthur, Texas, the second of four daughters. She was raised by her mother, Waldeene Beatrice Lee, and her stepfather, Raymond Payne.  

When Pam was 17, she met Michael Hartley at church in Wichita Falls, TX. Michael’s persistence in pursuing a relationship ultimately won over Pam, and they were sealed for time and eternity in the Salt Lake City Temple on August 23, 1966. 

Once Pam realized that marrying a career serviceman meant she would travel the world, she resolved to learn more about the culture and people wherever they would live. Most often, that focus was on learning to cook the local food. Friends and family across the world have benefitted from Pam’s love of cooking. 

Pam most wanted to be a mother, and her four children—Brent, Alan, Michelle, and Chris—made that dream a reality.  

Outside the home, Pam spent untold hours serving in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, where she served multiple times in Relief Society and Primary presidencies and other callings. In one memorable season of life, while living in a small branch of the Church in Italy, Pam was called to serve in both the Relief Society and Primary presidencies at the same time. Later, Pam served as a temple worker in the Oklahoma City Temple. 

She also spent her time in service of other military wives and their families by serving in the Officer Wive’s Club wherever she lived. 

During their more than 57 years of marriage, Pam and Mike lived in Texas five times, as well as Okinawa, Germany (Giesen and Frankfurt), Italy (Vicenza), California, Nebraska, Washington, Arizona, Utah, Mississippi, Oklahoma, and Idaho. 

Pam was an early adopter of technology and bought one of the earliest home computers when they became available in the 1980s. Her love of all things tech matched well with her love of family history, temple work, preparedness, home storage, and cooking. 

She also mastered the skill of painting on canvas using oil, acrylic, and watercolor paints and encouraged her kids and grandkids to do the same. 

Hundreds of friends across the world quickly saw a teacher and mentor in Pam, and she was often recruited to teach both formal and informal classes. At different times, she taught computer use, painting, toll painting, craft projects, calligraphy, cooking, food storage, budgeting, home preparedness, and family history. Even as her physical abilities decreased due to illness, Pam actively contributed to online forums to help others with their home storage and cooking questions. 

Pam was preceded in death by her parents, Waldeene and Raymond Payne, her birth father, William Terrell, and her sister, Sharlotte Morgan. 

She is survived by her husband, Mike, and her children, Brent (Alex), Alan (Camille), Michelle Woodland (Brian), and Chris (Misty). She is also survived by 17 grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren, and her sisters, Linda Miller (Reed) and Lucy Poteet (Norm). 

Funeral services will be held on Monday, April 22, at 10:00 am at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints building located at 3850 N 3500 E in Kimberly, Idaho. Pam will be interred at the Snake River Canyon National Cemetery in Buhl, Idaho.