Evan N. Bartley, age 14, of Mentor, passed away August 10, 2017, after a lifetime of bravely battling Dravet Syndrome – a rare and catastrophic form of epilepsy. Evan was born July 18, 2003 in Willoughby.
Evan possessed unbelievable strength and perseverance despite suffering from daily debilitating seizures. He set an important example for how others should live their lives: He never let obstacles get the better of him and he never gave up. He was able to find joy in life, no matter how rough things got. Evan was quick to forgive and never held a grudge. He enjoyed giving hugs to everyone, whether he knew you or not. He never hesitated to say, “I love you.” Everyone who got to know Evan quickly got to love Evan.
Evan loved spending time with his family as well as with his “boys and girls” in the MD Unit at Memorial Middle School, watching PBS Kids programming and Wheel of Fortune, and listening to music. If you sang the ABC song for him, you would rapidly become his best friend. His greatest love was elevators, and he could frequently be spotted riding all the elevators at the mall.
He is survived by his parents, Nancy Bartley (nee Waldhelm) of Mentor and Eric Bartley of Chardon; stepmother Jodi Bartley; step-siblings Michael, Eric and Kaelyn Cardina; grandparents, Gary and Louise Waldhelm of Wickliffe, Diana Bartley and George Bartley II of Ashland; uncle Marty Waldhelm of Willoughby, aunt Amy Leidigh (Adrian) of Ashland, and uncle George Bartley III (Lacy) of Ashland; great aunt and uncle Janice and Bill Bendfeldt of Wickliffe; along with many beloved great aunts and uncles, cousins, and dear friends.
Private family services will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, a donation in Evan’s honor can be made to the Dravet Syndrome Foundation to fund needed research (www.dravetfoundation.org) or to your local PBS station.
Arrangements entrusted to Jeff Monreal Funeral Home, 38001 Euclid Ave., Willoughby.
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45 Replies to “Evan N. Bartley”
Our prayers are with you and your family.
Our deepest sympathy to you at this difficult time. Rest In Peace Evan!
Prayers with you at this difficult time. I love you so much and am thinking of you always.
My deepest condolences so sorry for your loss. May God walk beside you during this difficult time.
Prayers go out to the family
Our thoughts are with you & your family during this difficult time
My thoughts and prayers are with you. I am so sorry for your loss. God bless you all…
God bless you all. I’m so sorry.
Bart I am so very sorry for your loss! Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family!
Eric, I am so sorry for your loss. You will be in my prayers
It was an honor being Evan’s teacher the past two years. I always looked forward to his big hugs, his wonderful smile, and the best laugh I’ve ever heard. Evan brought so much joy to my classroom and to my life. Evan taught me more than I could ever teach him.
Prayers to y’all and may the beautiful memories comfort you in these times of grief. Many Prayers, Sandy
I am so sorry to hear of your loss. Wish I would have had the opportunity to meet Evan – a strong, brave, kind warrior. My prayers are with you all.
I feel so fortunate to have met Evan while he was at school. His zest for fun and life would just melt my heart-especially when I heard him laugh. Praying that all the good in him will not just becoming a memory but something all of us will strive to become. He truly knew how to light up a room and touch a life. My prayers are with all who knew him.
My heart is breaking for all of you. I wish I had some magical words that could ease the extreme pain you’re feeling right now but unfortunately I don’t. Hopefully it helps at least a little that some many people have you in their thoughts and prayers. Rest In Peace dear Evan.
All our love,
Michelle, Mike, Nicole and Megan Graf
So sorry for your loss. Thoughts and prayers from my family to yours. Love you Bartley .
God bless you all! I’m so sorry for your loss.
We were privileged to know such a strong, happy, intelligent, friendly, kind young man. Evan changed us all for the better.
Everyone at Memorial Middle School loved him and he will be missed.
#onceacard #onceaminuteman
I am so sorry to hear of your loss! My thoughts and prayers are with all of you!
Nancy, Gary and Louise,
We are so very sorry to hear of Evan’s passing. May you find God’s peace and blessing during this difficult time.
We’re so very sorry for your loss… Praying for all of you during this very sad time… we pray that you will have peace knowing that he is free of any Pain and Disability now… God’s holding you all in the palm of his hand! Hugs to all of you!❤
Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family at this difficult time.
God bless your family. A thousand years is but a day, a day like a thousand years. You will be together some day.
Eric and Nancy,
We are so sorry for your loss. You are in our thoughts.
Mike, Wendy, Rachel & Brandon Adams
Deepest sympathy for your loss. Evan could light up a room or a school bus with his smile. He will be missed by so many people who had the opportunity to meet him.
Coach Bart and rest of family, my deepest condolences.
Surrounding family and friends with love and strength.
May you fly high Evan, free of seizures. RIP xxx
Thoughts and prayers for you and your family.
All of my prayers are with your family. I’m so sorry for your loss and pain. My the Lord bless you all. Evan will be missed very much. Im very sorry…
Prayer family and friend he alway in your heart ❤️
Please accept my deepest sympathy.
It’s never easy loosing a loved one especially a child! We too lost our daughter (18) to SUDEP in ’08.
Time is our best healer, may you find inner peace in the time ahead …
I am a member of the Epilepsy community and I have lost my own son in life to a different situation. I am so sorry for your loss of your wonderful boy. I will keep you in my prayers during this time. I know all to well how hard it is to be without someone so special.
I was fortunate to know Evan and we grew close. I will miss him very much.
Our thoughts and prayers are with your family! We are so very sorry for your loss! Rest In Peace Evan!
We are so sorry for your loss. Thinking of you and sending prayers. God bless your family.
So very sorry to hear of Evan’s passing. Our deepest sympathy to you Eric & family.
May god surround you & bless you through this difficult time.
Our thoughts & prayers are with you!
Thoughts & Prayers are with you all, Prayers of Peace & Comfort! Fly High sweet Angel
RIP
Prayers and a big hug to all family from Portugal.
Sorry to see Evan has left us. Enjoyed seeing him at Rotary Christmas parties over the years.
Nancy
Words cannot express how sad we feel for your loss. You are in our prayers.
Eric, Nancy, Louise and Gary, Thank you for allowing me to know and love Evan while working with him as a preschooler in your homes. He certainly did teach us about the joy in life. We should all learn much from such a great fighter in such a young boy. My sincere sympathy to all of you. Robbie Haic
I am so sad to hear of Evan’s passing. My prayers are with you all. My favorite remembrance of his is in music class when we would sing the ABC song. He was so excited and happy and laughing.
So sorry for Evan’s passing, our deepest sympathy to you Eric & family. May the Lord be with you & comfort you at this difficult time.
Thinking of you & keeping you in our prayers.
Prayers to your family and friends. I have had Epilepsy my whole life and I am trying my hardest to fight for others as well. Thank God, he had a family like you, that stood by him. Bless all of you!
It was such a joy to have worked with Evan and all of you as he began his preschool education. I will always remember him. He is at rest now. My sincere sympathy. Robbie Haic
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