Mary Emmiline Bartley

Mary Emmiline "Emma" Bartley, age 85 of Indianapolis, Indiana, passed away peacefully Tuesday evening at home with family by her side. She was born in Kansas City, Missouri, to Harry and Vida Hundley.

Emma will be forever remembered best as a devoted wife, mother, sister, grandma, great grandma, aunt, loyal friend, and home maker. If you knew her you also know that she IS a loving child of Jesus Christ. Emma is survived by her sister Margaret Johnson, brother Mike Weeks, sons Bill Bartley (wife Mickey), Bob Bartley (wife Patricia), Grandchildren Ben Bartley (Selina), Jasmine Mediano (husband Jose Carlos, great grandchildren, Xavier and David). She was preceded in death by her husband Lewis O. "Ollie" Bartley and her sister, Harriet Benjamin.

Emma was involved in many activities throughout her life, always pouring her heart and soul into all she did. She played high school basketball with her two sisters for the Belton "Pirates", and she worked at the local drugstore soda fountain where she met a handsome young man from East Liverpool, Ohio, who was serving in the U.S. Airforce and stationed at Richards-Gebaur Air Force Base. Besides finding that Emma made a great milkshake, Ollie (known to most folks as Lew but also nicknamed "Bruno" by his friends) was struck by her beauty and country girl charm. She also took notice of Bruno, and the story is that he probably got extra whip cream and cherries on his shakes. Within a year they were married (1958) and so the life journey together began. By 1965, after Bruno's military service was over, they settled in Cocoa Beach, Florida, with their two sons. In 1971 Emma and Bruno moved to a rural area near Zionsville, Indiana. Bruno tilled a garden space where she grew all sorts of vegetables, which she loved to do. Other pastimes were fishing, sewing, cooking, and making candy. Many people know first-hand how she perfected fudge, peanut brittle, divinity, buckeyes, and chocolates. There were many years that she would make enough candy for over a hundred employees that worked with Bruno. Years after the boys were grown, Emma learned computer skills and took a job with an architectural firm in Indianapolis and later in their West Palm Beach office. Later in life she made it her mission to give friends, family, first responders, military families, and all the kids in the TPCC youth ministry home-made brownies. She was a dedicated advocate of the unborn, sewed blankets for new mothers, and mentored young women with her home making skills. She loved her Church, her Church family and everyone in her bible study groups where she shared wisdom she had gained from her own life experiences and constant study of the WORD.

Emma will be missed but never forgotten.

A Celebration of Life will take place at Traders Point Christian Church, 6590 S Indianapolis Road, Whitestown, Indiana 46075, Thursday, 8/27 from 3p to 7p.

Emma will be laid to rest in a private family service at Old Mill Creek Cemetery, 687 Old Mill Creek Road, Hookstown, PA 15050 on at 11:00am on Saturday, 8/29.

In lieu of flowers Emma asked that any donations be directed to Life Centers, 9511 Angola Court, Suite 215, Indianapolis, IN 46267 - or to Hero Family Outreach, 610 Carmel Drive, Sneads Ferry, NC, 28460 - or to Trader Point Christian Church, PO Box 5100, Zionsville, IN 46077.