Ereline Rocker Hartley

Dateline: Metter

Ereline Rocker Hartley, 87, died Sunday, November 6, 2016. She was a lifelong resident of Candler County.  Mrs. Hartley was the daughter of the late Albert Herman Rocker, Sr. and Lavernia Fordham Rocker and was the second youngest of ten children.  She was of the Baptist faith.

Mrs. Hartley attended Georgia State College for Women and Georgia Teachers College and graduated from Georgia Southern in 1965 with a bachelor degree in education.  She taught math for thirty-three years in Emanuel and Candler County.  She was chosen as a Star Teacher and Teacher of the Year.  Many times, former students would see her and say they knew math because of her.  They especially commented on knowing their multiplication tables.  Mrs. Hartley enjoyed teaching and seeing the results of her efforts.  She loved the children she taught and could always recall things about them.  She was a member of the Candler County and Georgia Retired Educators.

 Ereline loved her children and grandchildren.  She cared for them after she retired and enjoyed being their first teacher.  She was a caretaker to her family, looking after her husband through many illnesses, a grandson through cancer, and a daughter through an illness.  Her family always came first.  She was the glue of the family and everyone looked to her for guidance. Her love and support will truly be missed.

Ereline loved working with flowers, gardening at the family farm, and cooking especially goodies for Christmas.  Everyone enjoyed a table full of sweets for Christmas. Her Caramel Cake was the families favorite.

 She was raised on a farm in an era when she could plunder in the woods, hunt violets, and wild plums.  She enjoyed following her dad and brothers in the fields.  This is where she learned her work ethic.  She was never afraid of hard work and was a free and independent person.  She always said she appreciated her parents more as she grew older.  Ereline was thankful for the values, morals and educational advantages they had provided for all the family.  Ereline never understood how anyone could doubt that there was a God if they ever had seen a rainbow, the ocean, flowers, or babies. 

Ereline had considered being a nurse, a teacher, and even running a restaurant in her earlier years.  She thought it was ironic that she became all of these while caring for her family.  She joked of this often.

Ereline was preceded in death by a son Rex Daniel Hartley, Jr., Brothers, A.V. Rocker Sr., J.O. Rocker, Watson Rocker, Hardwick Rocker, A.H. Rocker, Jr., and a sister, Christine Lee.

Survivors are her husband of 67 years, Rex Daniel Hartley, Sr., a son and daughter in-law, Rocker and June Hartley of Metter; a daughter and son in-law, Michelle and Chris Cliett of Statesboro; a sister, Evelyn Hardee of Norfolk, VA and two brothers, Robby Rocker of Millen and Barney Rocker of Metter, grandchildren, Danny Hartley, Drew Hartley, and Jacob Cliett,

Funeral services will be held Wednesday, 3:00 pm, at Kennedy Funeral Homes, Hooks Chapel, of Metter with burial in the Lake Cemetery. Visitation will be Tuesday, 5:00-7:00 pm, at the funeral home. Pallbearers will be Lamar Rocker, Dwayne Rocker, Jimmy Rocker, King Rocker, Kirk Rocker and John Jones, Jr. Guest book: kennedyfuneralhomechapels.com.

Kennedy Funeral Homes, Hooks Chapel, of Metter is in charge of arrangements.

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