Gladys Hartley

HARTLEY Gladys M. (nee Crow) January 17, 1921 - July 27, 2009 Dear wife of the late Victor Hartley (1910-1984), loving mother of Sandra and Ted Hartley, and treasured grandmother of Catherine O'Brien and Kristina O'Brien, Gladys will be sadly missed but dearly remembered. Born in Winnipeg, and a resident of North Vancouver since 1953, Gladys is also survived by her nieces and nephews, Beverley and Ron Itani, Sandy and Norm Jones, Allan Hartley, Bill Wackman, and Anita Raby, as well as sister-in-law, Jean Hartley. A member of the Royal Winnipeg Ballet Company by age 16, Gladys was exquisitely trained in the performing arts. Meeting Vic at the Winnipeg YMCA, they soon were doing beautiful lifts and adagio work that was adapted successfully to pair roller and ice skating at the Fort William Skating Club in the 1940's and the Vancouver Skating Club in the 1950's. Gladys trained and costumed over 500 children annually as Production Director of the Vancouver Skating Club. From 1953 into the 1980's, her dance classes in North Vancouver prepared hundreds more children in ballet, tap and acrobatics. From 1963 into the 1980's, Gladys was known as "Mrs. Flicka" as Head Coach of Flicka Gymnastics Club and coach of many Olympians and international gymnasts. For her thousands of volunteer hours sharing her judging, performance and artistry skills to the province of B.C., Gladys was honoured in Coaching in 2003 by the B.C. Sports Wall of Fame. Having touched and enhanced so many lives over so many years, Gladys is a major loss to the community of North Vancouver. The Hartley family are indebted to her personal physician, Dr. Susan Chow, whose compassionate care in Lions Gate Hospital over many years stemmed from fond bonds formed with Gladys in Flicka Gym Club. A special note of thanks is extended to Evergreen Transitional Care Unit in recent months, many of whom, so expertly comforted Gladys in her final days. Private graveside service. To register for a Celebration of Life event Sunday September 6 at 2:00pm, please contact: gladyshartleymemorial@shaw.ca.