James Willard Bartley, Jr.

James Willard Bartley, Jr. January 9, 1927 September 9, 2015 James Willard Bartley Jr., age 88, of Waco, Texas, departed peacefully at home, on September 9, 2015, surrounded by his loving family. A memorial service and reception will be held 2:00 p.m., Friday, September 25, at Seventh & James Baptist Church, 602 James Ave., Waco, TX 76706, with Jason Carlisle officiating. The family invites you to join us in giving thanks to our Lord Jesus for the gift Jimmy will always be, and celebrating his life lived fully on earth, and now in God's loving and everlasting embrace. Born January 9, 1927, in West Point, Georgia, to Blanche Askew and James Bartley Sr., Jimmy was the second of six children. He grew up in LaGrange Georgia, graduated from Auburn University in 1948, with a degree in Chemical Engineering. Jimmy earned a Doctorate of Theology from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, where he met his wife, Peggy Jean Bartley, of Harlingen Texas. They married on January 19, 1952, in Harlingen, Texas, and together pursued Jesus' calling to live out the Gospel in Uruguay. Jimmy and Peggy helped start churches in Montevideo, where he also directed and taught at the Baptist Seminary in Montevideo. Together they were active in the lives of many within their church and community, from 1952 to 1992. Throughout retirement, they continued to serve others in Spain, Argentina, Mexico and El Paso, and he led the Agape Mission at Columbus Avenue Baptist Church. Now reunited with Peggy, James is survived by his daughter and three sons, Nancy Gatlin and husband, Joe, Steven Bartley and wife, Ana, Michael Bartley, and Robert Bartley and wife, Cathi; grandchildren, Gabriela Colman and husband, Alfredo, Anali Gatlin and fiance, Joel Looper, Ana Bartley and husband, Juan Pablo Ortega Marsiglia, Melanie Bartley, Kelly Bartley, Stephanie Bartley, Ryan Baxter, Kelli Touchstone and husband, Tanner, Kathryn Bartley and John Bartley; one sister, Lanelle Thompson and two brothers, Neil and friend, Sharon, and Wayne Bartley and wife, Beverly. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Agape Mission at Columbus Avenue Baptist Church, 1300 Columbus Ave., Waco, TX 76701. The family invites you to leave a message or memory in our "Memorial Guestbook" at www.WHBfamily.com.