Mildred Kate Blanton Hartley, of Newland, N.C., passed away on Sunday, December 31, 2017.

Born on February 14, 1933, in Mill Spring, Polk County, N.C., she graduated from Mill Spring High School in 1951. She entered LPN training at Grace Hospital in Banner Elk that same year, where she worked until being married in 1955 to Howard “Buster” Hartley of Newland.

She graduated from the Wilton School of Cake Decorating in Chicago in 1965, and she later owned and operated her own cake shop at her home on Vale.

She also acquired her RN degree at Caldwell Community College in 1978. In addition to her work at Grace Hospital, she spent the rest of her 50 year career as a nurse working at Spruce Pine Hospital, Crossnore Hospital, as a hospice nurse, a home health nurse for Avery County, a private duty nurse, and finally as a volunteer for Hearts and Hands Visitation through First Baptist Church Newland where she was a longtime member.

She was also a member of the Highland Craft Guild for a time, and she created many beautiful things with her skills.

She was preceded in death by her husband, her parents Binam and Florence Jackson Blanton, her brothers Luther, Jesse, and Grant, and her sisters Margie Lee and Dot Simpson. She is survived by her children, Howard Hartley Jr. of Newland and Cynthia Mascibroda (Daniel) of Fairless Hills, Pa.; her grandchildren Lauren Mascibroda, Kelsey Hartley, Rachel Mascibroda and Buster Hartley; her brothers Roger and Gaither Blanton, and her sister Cora Ingle.

Mildred will be fondly remembered by the many people whose lives she touched, often during their most difficult times.

Services for Mildred Hartley will be held on, Friday, January 5, 2018 beginning at 11 a.m. at the First Baptist Church Newland with Dr. Bill Jones officiating.

The family will receive friends beginning at 10 a.m. on January 5, 2018 at the First Baptist Church Newland.

Interment will be in the Tanglewood Cemetery following the funeral service.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to Medi-Home Hospice, First Baptist Church Newland and Mary Catherine Estep.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to MediHome Hospice, P.O. Box 1357, Newland, NC 28657.

Words of comfort and memories may be shared with the Hartley family by visiting www.rsfh.net. The care of Mildred and her family has been entrusted to Reins-Sturdivant Funeral Home of Newland.

Reins-Sturdivant Funeral Home
Newland, N.C.