Daniel Lee Hartley

HARTLEY, Daniel Lee of Mesquite, born June 15, 1992, passed away December 16, 2008. Preceded in death by grandmother, Wanda Hartley; survived by mother, Toni Hartley; grandfather, Jack Hartley; cousins, Steve Hartley, Matt Hartley, Amber Hartley, Chris Hardin, Sandy Hardin, and numerous other cousins, too many to name; and many other loving family and friends. Service will be 2:00PM Sunday December 21, 2008 at Mesquite Church of Christ, 400 W. Davis St., Mesquite, TX. 75149. Family will receive friends Sunday at the church from 12:00Noon to 2:00PM. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Epilepsy Foundation. Daniel was born in Dallas, on June 15, 1992. Once he made his arrival, the whole world was changed forever. The comments most often heard about Daniel is that he was a sweet boy . He loved everyone and was very caring and giving. He loved babies, kids, and the elderly. He always greeted everyone with a smile and a hug. He loved to tag along with his cousins, Steve, Matt, and Amber, Chris and Sandy. Whatever they were doing, he wanted to do also. At times, he struggled and things did not always come easily to him, but he never quit. He would continue to try and enjoy the experience. He played soccer for quite a few years. Once he started to play inline hockey nothing else would do. He was very adapt in skating and swimming. He once received an award for catching the biggest fish at scout camp. Even though he had ear tubes until he was 13, he never let him stop swimming. He would wear a swimming cap, even though it didnt seem cool to do so, rather than miss out on swimming. He never missed church for any reason. He loved to go to church and to learn about Christ. When he got in the 3rd grade he started to go to North Texas Leadership Training for Christ, where he sang, lead singing, wrote and gave speeches, participated in Bible Bowl and many other activities. I believe this is when he started to desire to someday become a preacher or youth minister. He participated in LTC for 5 years, winning many gold and silver medals. He would always ask how people they were, if they had been out sick, he would pray for them and then let them know that they were missed the next time he saw them. He always gave wonderful hugs. He attended church camp every summer. He also participated in 4 State Sing School. He desired to dedicate his life to Christ and was baptized in August, 2005 by his cousin, Ben Hartley. He started to have seizures in April 2005. He spent 4 months in the hospital and rehabilitation. He lost his short term memory. And school became even more difficult for him, but still he persevered. He was no longer able to play the sports he loved and even participate in some of the activities the youth group did because they were too rigorous for him. He attended one mission trip to Birmingham, AL and he came back so excited and looked forward to more trips. He longed to go to Honduras for the mission trip, but with his health concerns was not able to do so. He was looking forward to graduating next year and then going on the community college before continuing to a larger university. He still had a great desire to preach the word of God. He wanted to participate in all the activities that the youth group did. He recently told me that when he got out of school he was going to travel around the world. He wanted to go everywhere, just to see what it was like and to experience something different. He also participated in lots of community service. He would help with anything that needed to be done. He would set up tables, sweep floors, worked at the food pantry at our church when he was not in school. Daniel loved to hang out with his family and friends. He will truly be missed. Our hearts are broken beyond repair. Daniel was always so polite and respectful and full of life. He made everyone he was around want to do better. His love was pure and unconditional. God shone through him. Words cannot express how wonderful a young man he was. On December 16,2008 he left us to go home to be with his grandmother and will be watching over us until we can meet again someday. Thank you for the memories my sweet, baby boy. I love you, Daniel Doodles. Good night. Rest in Peace.