Smith Center resident, Billie D. Bartley, passed away at his home on Saturday, April 20, 2019 at the age of 83.

He was born March 22, 1936 in Inavale, Nebraska, the son of Forest and Sarah D. (Williams) Bartley.  As a young boy, Billie attended rural Smith County schools including the Mt Hope School District.   After 8 ^th grade he went to work for local farmers and then helped with construction of the Hastings Ammunition Depot.

On November 27, 1957 Billie was united in marriage to Lorraine R. Stevens in Phillips County, Kansas.   This union was blessed with two sons, Terry and Tim, and two daughters, Arlene and Marlyce.

Billie worked as a drag line crane operator for Bushman Construction, Subsurfco and other companies building irrigation canal systems in Kansas and Nebraska.  He later retired from Pro-Ag Marketing in Kensington, Kansas, where he delivered fuel and worked in the service station.

Billie loved farm life, and throughout his working career he always managed to have his own farm, livestock and dairy to take care of, along with his favorite little dog, Rascal.

Preceeding him in death are parents Forest and Sarah, son Terry D Bartley, a sister Marjorie Mahalek, and a brother Robert Bartley.

Survivors include his wife, Lorraine, of Smith Center, KS; two daughters, Arlene Stone of Hastings, NE and Marlyce Gordier and husband, Paul, of Elm Creek; a son, Tim Bartley and wife, Melanie, of Smith Center, KS; daughter-in-law, Chong Bartley of Atlanta, GA; three brothers, Darral and wife, Patricia, of Ravenna, NE, Alan and wife, Donna, of Formoso, KS and Jerry and wife, Julie, of Aurora NE; two sisters, Twila Bydler of Wakeeney, KS and Sharon Kaslon and husband, Larry, of Loup City, NE; sister-in-law, Kay Bartley of Hastings, NE; brother-in-law, John Mahalek of South Dakota; 10 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 10 :30 a.m. Wednesday, April 24, 2019 in the Central Community Church, Smith Center, KS, with Pastor's Casey Borger and Douglas Deneui officiating.  Burial will follow in the Agra Cemetery, Agra, KS.

Mr. Bartley will lie in state from Noon until 9 p.m. Monday and 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday at the Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel, 1115 2 ^nd Street, Phillipsburg, KS  67661, with the family receiving friends Tuesday evening from 5:30 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. for visitation.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Central Community Church or the Parkinson's Heartland Foundation.