Merilyn Onalee Hartley, age 97, of Stockbridge, MI, passed away on May 16, 2022 at Sacred Heart Adult Care Home in Gregory, MI. Merilyn was born on March 21,1925 in Stockbridge, MI the daughter of Irving and Vida (Holland) Batdorff.

Merilyn had lived in the Stockbridge area most of her life. She was a teacher and taught elementary school children for many years. She enjoyed teaching young children how to read. She taught in the Parman Road country school for a couple of years. She also taught for Grass Lake Schools as well as Jackson Northwest Middle School. She was an honest and simple person. Merilyn was a member of the Stockbridge Methodist Church for many years, and she enjoyed bowling with the Millville ladies. In her later years, she wintered in Palm Springs, FL.

On August 15, 1947, she married Forest D. Hartley, and he preceded her in death in 2005. She is survived by two sons, Clifford (Dawn) Hartley, and Daniel (Barb) Hartley; siblings: Merlyn Batdorff, Myron Batdorff; eight grandchildren: Heather (Justin) Black, Brooke (Norberto) Hartley, Chris (Nicole) Hartley, Brian (Sara) Hartley, Nathan (Julie) Hartley, Jeremy Hartley, Daniel Hartley, and Kee Young (Duff) Boyd; many great-grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews. In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by a son, Dennis Hartley, brother, Roland Batdorff, and two sisters, Charlotte Teachworth and Mondaine Bradbury.

A graveside service will be held on Saturday, May 21, 2022, 11:00 a.m., at Oaklawn Cemetery in Stockbridge.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

Arrangements by Caskey-Mitchell Funeral Home.