Emma Colleen (Tidler) Hartley , age 90 of Elwood, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, September 11, 2019 at York Senior Living Center in Marion following an extended illness.  She was born August 31, 1929 in Tipton, the daughter of Charles O. and Ruth V. (Lewis) Tidler.  She was the first person in her family to graduate from high school, and she was proud to be a 1948 graduate of Tipton High School.  Emma married Robert Eugene Hartley, Sr. on December 23, 1948, and they shared 64 years of marriage together.  She worked as an inspector for over 23 years at Ex-Cello in Elwood which later became Airfoil Textron.  She was a devoted and active member of East Main Street Christian Church in Elwood where she helped serve countless funeral dinners.  She was a member of the Heartland Quilting Club, Lady Elks, and formerly an active member of the Elwood 50-Plus Club.  One of Emma's favorite hobbies was water skiing at Lake Tippecanoe.  Emma was always proud of the fact that she was a hard worker; true to her country; and later in life had been retired longer than she had worked.  Emma's family would especially like to thank the staff of St. Vincent Ascension Hospice and York Senior Living Center in Marion for their love, care, and compassion they provided to Emma and her family.  Special thanks is also expressed to all of Emma's family and devoted friends who shared this journey with her.

Emma's family legacy includes 2 sons, Robert E. Hartley, Jr. (Carol Moore) of Elwood, and Thomas L. (wife Diana) Hartley of Huntington; 4 brothers, Richard (wife Marilyn) Tidler of Sharpsville, David Tidler of Tipton, Joe Tidler of Florida, and Garry (wife Sharon) Tidler of Sharpsville; sister, Evelyn (husband Bedford "BJ") Johnson of Sharpsville; sister-in-law, Nancy Hartley Callaway; 5 grandchildren, Scott (wife Darla) Hartley, Stacie (husband Jack) Price, Amanda Jo Hartley (Tyson Davis), James (wife Ashley) Hartley, and Lynlie (husband Cody) Adair; 15 great-grandchildren; 8 great-great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

Emma was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Robert E. Hartley, Sr. who passed in 2013; 3 sisters, Margaret Long, Cherie Mahaney, and Donna Epps; brother, William Tidler; and great-granddaughter, Susan Marie Hartley.

A funeral service celebrating Emma's life will be conducted at 4pm on Saturday, September 14, 2019 at Copher-Fesler-May Funeral Home with Rev. Tim Becker of the Main Street Wesleyan Church officiating.  Cremation will follow, and burial will take place in the Elwood City Cemetery in October.  Visitation for family and friends will be held from 2 to 4 pm on Saturday prior to the funeral service at Copher-Fesler-May Funeral Home.   In lieu of flowers, Emma's wish was for memorial contributions to be made to Riley Children's Hospital through the funeral home.  Online condolences and memories may be shared at copherfeslermay.com.