Janny Hartley, age 96, died April 12, 2026 at NorBella Senior Living in Prior Lake, Minnesota.

Janice (née Hartley) Hartley was born 11:00 AM on December 29, 1929 at the General Hospital of Everett in Snohomish County, Washington to parents Gretchen H. (Smith) and David Marston Hartley, the youngest of four children. She attended Everett and Mukilteo public schools (DAR representative and Homecoming Queen at Everett High School) and the University of Washington in Seattle where she studied advertising and graphic design.

Janny married David Hartley of Duluth, Minnesota on July 28, 1950, at Trinity Episcopal Church in Everett. Their witnesses were the bride’s best friend, Mary Lou (Ludie) Agnew, and Alfred Hartley, brother of the groom. They resided in Eveleth in a new house designed by Janny in Morningside Addition, and raised five children there. She moved to the Twin Cities in the mid-1970s.

Janny was an accomplished seamstress, crafting matching dresses for the girls (and sometimes herself), drapes, bedspreads, and canopies. One of her most impressive projects was leasing property near Fayal Pond, installing fencing, and converting two boxcars into a barn for their three horses, which family and friends enjoyed for many years. She absolutely loved animals and was a huge fan of all music - modern jazz in particular - often traveling with her children to NYC, Chicago, and Seattle for Oscar Peterson or George Shearing performances. 

Janny was a debutante in Seattle, belonged to the Lambda Chapter of Gamma Phi Beta sorority, and the Eshquaguma Country Club, and in the 1960’s was the Chair of Minnesota Republican Women. She also operated a small interior design service called “About the House”, and was a booking agent for local jazz musicians. She frequently hosted Bridge Club, holiday dinners often featuring fresh seafood from the West Coast, and birthday parties with unique themes and beautiful hand-crafted decorations. Always athletic, she loved dancing with The Penguin Club, as well as swimming, skiing, and horseback riding. 

Janny was immensely creative and talented, always inspiring to family and friends with her own personal élan, panache and exquisite taste - truly one of a kind. In her cousin Hartley Paul’s words: “Janny was my first babysitter, my favorite Force of Nature, and Unique in all the World. She was truly the best of the best, liveliest of the liveliest, and funnest of the funnest. She was always ‘Good Company’… I’ll never forget her singing and playing her ukulele. What a loss for all of us and for the world. I loved her dearly, and will miss her forever.”

Janny was preceded in death by her parents, sister Sue H. Brown of Everett, brother David M.C. Hartley of Seattle, sister Gretchen H. Ghormley of Redlands CA, son-in-law Bruce L. Anderson, and daughter Elizabeth H. Lenich of Eveleth. She is survived by daughters Laurel (Steve Bellamy) Leone of Menlo Park, Jane (Thomas) Kingston of Fayal Township, Dr. Susan (Denis Ostroot) Hartley of Maple Plain, and Anne (the late Bruce) Anderson of Prior Lake; son John R. Hartley of Minnetonka; seven grandchildren (Whitney, Daniel, Charles, Carolyn, Maren, Noel, Helen Rose); five great-grandchildren (Sophie, Evelyn, Hendrix, Hartley, Parker); beloved cousins, nieces, nephews; and special friend, Jenny Coughlin.

A celebration of her remarkably extraordinary life will be held at June 17, 2026 between 2 & 4 PM at the Cremation Society, 7110 France Avenue South in Edina. Those who wish may make memorial donations to the charity of their choice.