John Jeffery Hartley

After a long illness, John Jeffery Hartley died peacefully at home surrounded by family on Tuesday, November 28, 2023.  The son of John Wesley and Anna Ruth (Waits) Hartley, John was born in Fernandina Beach, FL on Sept. 21, 1962.  He lived in various parts of north Florida - Jacksonville, Madison, Live Oak - before calling Ponce de Leon home.

John was a bridge superintendent for Sema Construction. Building bridges is what he knew best.  In his spare time, John enjoyed working on and restoring old cars, fishing, hunting, and collecting guns.  He adored his sweet fur-babies, Katie and Madison.  In 1995 John met the love of his life, Teena Bishop, and they married in 1997.

He never met a stranger and would give his last dollar to help anyone in need.  Family and friends will remember John as generous and kind, and as the most caring man they ever knew.

John is preceded in death by his mother, Anna Ruth Downing, his step-father, Louis Downing, and his father, John W. Hartley.

He is survived by his beloved wife Teena Hartley, daughters Tracy Potwin (Jamie) and Trina Starling (Kyle), grandchildren Amanda Weaver (Todd), Lindsey Starling (Kurt), Kyle Starling (Nicole), Dawson Starling, and Brittany Potwin, and great grandchildren Kynley Johnson, Trenton Johnson, Olivia Spurlock, Brynlee Spurlock, and Trinity Weaver.

Flowers are being accepted OR please consider making a donation to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital in memory of John.

A time of visitation is scheduled for Friday, December 1, 2023 at 10:00am at McDonald Family Funeral Home.  Funeral service will begin at 11:00am and, if weather permits, a graveside service will follow at Antioch Cemetery.