- Date Of Birth: December 8, 1953
- Date Of Death: March 31, 2022
- State: Florida
Louis Paul Hartley passed away on March 31, 2022 in Fleming Island, FL. He was born on December 8, 1953 and at age 9 was adopted, along with his siblings Freddy and Janice, by Robert and Elizabeth Hartley.
The brave Hartley family adopted three children whom had been living in foster homes most of their lives and moved them to their new home in New Orleans, LA. This is where Louis’s love of fishing, boxing and football began.
While Louis was in high school, the family relocated to Memphis, TN. There he met and married his high school sweetheart, Jan, to whom he would have been married 50 years this upcoming June. The couple then moved just outside of Memphis to Jonesboro AR with their first son, Bobby, and five years later Jason was born. In 1982, Louis committed his life to the Lord and became a soldier for God with his warrior mentality. He was an exceptional building contractor and developer.
In 1986, the family moved to Jacksonville, FL to pursue various endeavors in the construction and sign business. Of course, his passion for fishing continued in the St. John’s River, Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico and southern LA. His infamous offshore boat named “Fish Tales” had a highly illustrated career with his brilliant fishing mind at the helm.
Louis coached both sons from a very young age through high school. His final ten years of coaching were at Trinity Christian Academy. His offensive and defensive strategy, film study, preparation and play calling is likely still used there today. He took great pride in preparing his athletes to mentally compete the toughest opponents. Many of those players played at the next level and several went on to the Pros. His brilliant play-calling and discernment led to countless particular game changing moments etched in time. He taught each to have the warrior attitude every time they went to battle. Louis’s pre-game pep talks stuck with those players throughout life.
Louis used his warrior spirit throughout his life to protect and provide for his family. He was a friend and father to many young athletes, many of whom are here today. Though he loved being called “Coach” and “Captain”, the name he was most proud of came from his grandchildren who called him “Poppa.”
The legacy and spirit of Louis Hartley will live on within everyone he touched and everyone they will touch in the future. He was a son, a husband, a father, a brother, a grandfather, a brother-in-law, an uncle, a builder, a fisherman, a coach, a warrior, and most of all a believer to the end.
Louis was preceded in death by his parents, Robert and Elizabeth Hartley and his siblings, David and Janice.
Louis is survived by his loving wife, Jan Hartley; children, Bobby and Jason Hartley; grandchildren, Caden Hartley and Darin Glover and daughter-in-law, Malia Hartley.
