Hartley, Betty

Betty Hartley was born in Toledo, Ohio in 1914, the daughter of Walter Eversman and Grace Eversman (Greenhalgh ). She first came to Cranberry Island with her parents in 1919.

That first summer they stayed at Mamie Birlem’s (62 Cranberry Road) and took their meals at Annie and Millard Spurling’s (68 Cranberry Road). Over the years they stayed at various boarding houses and rented from the Spurlings. Her grandmother. Harriet Partridge, read from Charles Dickens to the children each evening in the Store.

As a child she swam at “the Green Spot,” near the Williamsons, took horseback riding lessons at a stable on the mainland and sailing lessons from a captain she called “Jesus Christ Dear” because he would yell “Jesus Christ, dear, pull in the jib!” Her father built a tennis court and she learned to play and enjoyed tennis into her 80’s. Years later she gave a piece of land for a new tennis court. Her donation is commemorated by the Betty Hartley Gate.

In 1939 her father bought a piece of land on Preble Cove and built a house there. In 1943 Betty married Harold Hartley and they honeymooned on Great Cranberry. It was fortunate that he liked Great Cranberry or their marriage might not have gone so well. They had three daughters — Holly, Vicky and Gracie – all of whom loved Cranberry Island. Betty loved vegetable gardening in the morning and sailing in the afternoon. Some family members and friends called her “Lambie.” The story has something to do with a leg of lamb having been dropped on the floor on its way to the table.

Harold died in 1964 and Betty was a widow for 45 years. She was blessed with 2 grandchildren, Meg and Alex, and finally a great-grandchild, Seven. She attended the Cranberry Church and was chairperson of the White Elephant table at the Fair. She made it fun.

She died in 2009 and some of her ashes were scattered in the Western Way and some were laid to rest with her husband as was her wish.