Gary A. Bartley

SKOWHEGAN – Gary A. Bartley, 78, passed while a resident of Woodlawn and Rehab in Skowhegan on July 9, 2025.

Gary was born in Hartland on March 4, 1947, to Lewie and Charlene (Stedman) Bartley and grew up in Shawmut. He graduated from Lawrence High School in 1965 where he lettered in both baseball and football.

After graduation he went to work at Scott Paper Company in Winslow. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in December of 1965 doing his basic training at Ft. Dix. After taking additional training in Baltimore, Md., he was assigned to the 55th Military Detachment serving two tours of duty stationed in Nha Trang, So. Vietnam attaining the rank of E5. When he came home, he returned to Scott Paper and eventually became a Class A pipe fitter.

In 1992 he met his true soulmate, Ruth Bowman, and in August of that year they married at Birch Haven Campground on Eagle Lake at his sister and brother-in-law’s camp. In the 22 years they were married they spent vacations touring with his sister and brother-in-law going to all the Canadian maritime provinces and spent 15 days in Alaska fishing and enjoying the State’s beauty.

Gary took over the family camp on Morrill Pond after his mother’s death and with Ruth turned it into their year-round home. Gary and Ruth loved to sing Karaoke and went all over the State singing and making many friends along the way. Most of those friends knew him as “Grizz.”

He was predeceased by his parents; and grandparents; his wife, Ruth; and his stepson, Nyles Bowman, Jr.

Gary is survived by his son, Scott, daughter-in-law, Renae, and granddaughters Claire and Elise Bartley, all of New Hampshire; his daughter, Misty Klien of Florida; sister, Clarice and brother-in-law, Robert Pelletier of Skowhegan; stepchildren, Lisa (Mike) Brooker of Bangor, Cheryl (Gurdon) Boothby of Cornville, Wendall (Jen) Bowman of New York, Vicki (Cathy) Bowman-Vickers of Skowhegan and stepdaughter-in-law, Kelly Bowman of Madison; aunt, Janet Stedman of Hartland; three nieces, Sherry (Larry) Burgess, Jodi (Darren) Warren and Bobbie-Jo (Sam) Green; along with great-nephews, great-nieces; many cousins; step-grandchildren; and step-great-grandchildren.

Gary was a Life Member of VFW Post 1285 in Waterville and a member of the American Legion Post 14 in Fairfield.

We wish to thank all the employees of Woodlawn Nursing & Rehab for the wonderful care Gary received there. We also wish to thank Beacon Hospice personnel for their compassionate care in the last months of his life.

There will be a graveside service, for family and friends at the Pine Grove Cemetery in Hartland on Friday, July 25, at 1 p.m., where he will be buried next to his mother and father.

Please visit Gary’s memorial page at https://svremembrancecenter.com/obituaries/gary-bartley where condolences, photos, and special memories may be shared.

As Gary loved to eat, donations can be made in his memory to any local food pantry.