Shell Elbert “Buck” Hartley, Jr., 78, of Tifton passed away on Wednesday, May 22, 2024, at his residence. His funeral service will be held at 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 28, 2024, in the Chapel of Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals with the Rev. Dr. Wayne Roe officiating. Buck will be laid to rest at Oak Ridge Cemetery. The family will receive friends on Tuesday, May 28, 2024, in the Chapel of Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals from 3:00 p.m. until the hour of the service.
Josh Morrison, Raynor Kvistad, Bayly Thompson, Christian Hartley, Jake Williams and Jake Carswell will serve as pallbearers.
Buck was a well-respected, hardworking, and honorable leader with a sparkling wit who touched many lives throughout his life. Born on August 27, 1945, in Albany, he was the son of the late Shell Elbert Hartley, Sr. and Mary Deese Hartley. Buck graduated from Southern Technical Institute in Marietta, and with the belief that serving his country is part of serving humanity, he was in the Georgia National Guard from 1966 to 1976.
Buck had a prestigious 33-year career in civil engineering with the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT), working on groundbreaking developments like the state’s interstate system and the Tom Moreland Interchange (colloquially known as Spaghetti Junction). Before retiring, he was the Assistant State Maintenance Engineer for GDOT in Atlanta and the District Engineer for GDOT in Tifton. Buck also served as president of GDOT’s Engineers Association. Aside from his many pioneering contributions, one of his proudest professional moments was to help and encourage hundreds of his team members.
Buck is survived by his wife of nearly 60 years, Letha Kvistad Hartley of Tifton; three sons and two daughters-in-law, Chad and Penny Hartley of Saint Simons, Brad and Keylee Vance Hartley of Thomasville and Kevin Hartley of Tifton; two sisters and one brother-in-law, Teresa and Eddie Carswell of Franklin, Tennessee and Elizabeth Hartley Filliat of Roswell; four grandchildren, Kamie Rebecca Thompson, Christian Shell Hartley, Jake Williams and Justin Williams; and four great-grandchildren, Lincoln Hartley, Finley Thompson, Macade Williams and Mila Williams.
Flowers will be accepted, or memorial gifts may be made to the ALS United of Georgia, 227 Sandy Springs Place, Suite D #304, Sandy Springs, GA 30328, or the Alzheimer’s Association, SW Georgia Regional Office, 2402 Tift Avenue, Suite 102, Tifton, GA 31794. “A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, and loving favor rather than silver and gold.” – Proverbs 22:1