Donna Bartley

Donna Marie Bartley of Sedalia, passed away on June 18th, 2025, surrounded by her loving family in St. Louis where she had been living since September 2022.

Donna was born on November 19, 1933, in Princeton, MO to George and Beulah Harkins. She was the oldest of three siblings, two sisters and one brother. Donna attended and graduated from Chillicothe Business College with an accounting degree. She began her work career in a unique and yet, skillful manner. During the last six weeks of College, the class was required to write a letter of application for a job interview to the local paper. She decided to also mail a copy of her application to an actual location hiring in Kansas City. From that application, she received a job interview where she was hired and began working at the Country Club Christian Church where she remained for 7 ½ years. During that time, she and J.D. Bartley had been dating and decided to marry on June 26, 1955, after he returned from the Army. They moved to Kansas City and were blessed with their first child, Susan, in 1960. A few years later, they had their second child, Sharon. JD was promoted to District route manager for Kitty Clover Potato Chips, and they moved to Sedalia and had their third daughter, Sara. Donna was very active with her daughters and stayed involved through Brownies, Girl Scouts, PTA Council and church activities. Her daughters kept her busy and she enjoyed participating in the many organizations and activities. Donna and her family were also active members of the First Baptist Church of Sedalia.

Unfortunately, in June of 1974, J.D. passed away and Donna became a single parent, raising three daughters. She began working at Sedalia Bank & Trust/US Banks for several years until she began her career at JCPenney. She worked in the Catalog Department and enjoyed meeting people and calling them by name when they came in. Most customers may recall her by her voice on the overhead speaker when it was time for announcements. She had a very "poised and professional tone" when she delivered the announcements. Donna remained at JCPenney for 25 years when she decided to retire and spend more time with her family. She continued to meet with her friends from JCPenney for breakfast once a month on Monday mornings because she considered them friends and enjoyed hearing about their lives even after she had retired.

Donna was passionate about volunteerism. She was nominated among other Sedalians in 1976 and won the Epsilon Sigma Alpha International DIANA Award for her exceptional service to humanity. The DIANA Award, which stands for The Distinguished International Academy of Noble Achievement, recognizes a local woman who has unselfishly given of her time to a remarkable degree in some area of service which benefits others. The award winner "exemplifies in her daily life the wholesome and inspiring qualities of love, faith, and courage". This award is still given to special individuals today. She was a lifelong member of the General Federation of Women's Clubs. Donna was a lifelong member of the Cosmopolitan Junior Women's Club in Sedalia. Her membership has spanned over 50 years and has continued to present. She served as 5th District President, Missouri State President and was a member of the Missouri National Board. She was also a member of the Missouri Girls Town Board in Kingdom City, Missouri. She also enjoyed being a member of Red Hat of Sedalia.

Donna is preceded in death by both of her parents and her beloved husband, J.D. Bartley, brother, Daniel Harkins and a grandson, Glen Naylor. She is survived by her daughters, Susan Naylor of Sedalia, Sharon Bartley of St. Louis and Sara Mirtaheri (Piman) of Jefferson City. Grandchildren: Joshua Naylor, Holli Naylor, Dillon Naylor, Kylie Bartley and Matt Mirtaheri. Great-grandchildren Landon Naylor, Jerian Maupins and Zariah Maupins. She is survived by two sisters, DeAnna Elliott, South America and Janice Lorenz of Trenton, Mo. and a niece Amanda Ishamael of Trenton, Mo.

Visitation will be from 10:00 a.m. until service time on Tuesday, June 24, 2025, at Heckart Funeral Home in Sedalia. Funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday at the funeral home. The family will gather for a Graveside Service and burial in Spickard, MO at the Masonic Cemetery at 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday, June 24, 2025. Memorial contributions are suggested to the Missouri Girls Town in Kingdom City, MO. Arrangements are in the care of Heckert Funeral Home of Sedalia.