In Loving Memory Of Gene Richard Bartley Nov. 16, 1938 ~ Aug. 7, 2025
Church service for Gene Richard Bartley, was held Monday afternoon, August 11, 2025 at the Sudan Church of Christ with Rex Boyles of Lubbock, Texas officiating. Burial was held in Littlefield Memorial Park in Littlefield, Texas. Gene departed this life on August 7, 2025 at the age of 86 after a 9-month bout with cancer. He left the droughts, sandstorms and unpredictable winds of West Texas– exchanging them for the fertile soil and soothing sunshine of Heaven's farmland.
Gene is survived by his wife, Jeanne Seymore Bartley of Sudan; his eldest son, Lyn of Sudan; his middle son, Lee and his wife, Karen, from Amarillo TX; his youngest son, Michael and his wife, Ashley of Sudan; and his daughter, Misty of Sudan. He is also survived by his sister, Vicky (Bartley) Williams of Marble Falls TX. Gene's additional legacy includes his grandchildren – Shelby, Ashton, Ryan, Lexi, and Tate – and one great grandchild, Kylan. He was preceded in death by his parents and his daughter, Ronda.
Gene was born in Chillicothe Texas, to Early and June (Chandler) Bartley on November 16, 1938. At the young age of 1, his father moved the family to Sudan, Texas – to begin a life as a cotton farmer West of town. Gene attended school 1-12 in Sudan….celebrating fun times with friends, pulling pranks on teachers, draggin' main street as a teenager, and enjoying the thrill of team sports in football, basketball and track. Book work was not what kept dad in school. Determined to spread his wings upon high school graduation, he and several classmates enlisted in the Army. After basic training at Fort Polk, LA, he was sent to Germany for four years where he served as a heavy mobile equipment mechanic. The military way of life was not something Gene wanted to pursue as a career, so he chose not to reenlist. Instead, he decided to return to Sudan and re-ignite his former relationship with Jeanne. Shortly thereafter, they married on December 27, 1962. Within a few years, they decided to move their young family to the country West of town, but a few years later relocated to their homestead South of Sudan in 1978 where he lived these past 47 years.
Gene was predominantly a cotton farmer, but when mother nature directed otherwise, he would harvest wheat, corn, black eyed peas, sunflowers, and milo. Having a love of sports himself, Gene encouraged his four children at a young age to participate in sports and elected to coach them in Pee Wee Baseball and Little Dribblers Basketball in addition to the sons' Boy Scout activities. On the farm, Gene taught his sons how to hunt and ride motorcycles. In their teenage years, he encouraged their involvement in Future Farmers of America by annually raising pigs and steers to participate in the local Livestock Shows.
Upon becoming an empty nester, Gene elected to stay involved in basketball by being a referee for junior high and high school games across the panhandle of Texas. He was always proud that he was physically able to "run up and down the court" until he chose to retire his whistle at age 72. At such time, his other hobbies of golfing and dominoes became more prominent in his life – having never been sidelined amid his other responsibilities. Gene loved both of these activities equally. He was a formidable domino player – having learned the game while sitting in his mother's lap at the age of 2. Nothing thrilled him more than to tell you what dominoes you were "holding" – forcing you to play it so he (and his partner) could win the hand.
Gene loved his family dearly and did all that he could to support them in life. His life was deeply rooted in Christ though he was not often out-spoken about his Faith and the Scriptures. At a young age, he gave his life to Christ and strove to follow Him throughout his lifetime. It is with confidence that the family knows he is resting peacefully now– no more struggles, pain, nor suffering – in the loving, eternal arms of God!
The family respectfully requests in lieu of flowers or plants, that donations be given to the Sudan EMS, PO Box 491, Sudan, Texas, 79371 in remembrance of Gene.