Geraldine Virginia Hartley

Geraldine (Geri) Hartley passed away on July 23, 2022. She was born November 22, 1929, in Walla Walla to G.J. and Bessie Manuel and attended College Place Public Grade School and St. Patrick's Catholic High School, graduating in 1947. She was employed by Pacific N.W. Bell Telephone for five years. She married Marvin Schiller in 1952 and moved to Seattle, WA. They had three children. Returning to Walla Walla, they later divorced. She returned to Seattle, where she was employed by Sears Telephone Sales for 2 ½-years. Returning to Walla Walla, she continued to work for Sears and retired after 26 years. She met and married John Hartley while at Sears.

Geraldine enjoyed bowling early in life and loved to read, scrapbooking, and had an interest in genealogy. After retirement, she volunteered for many years at the Providence St. Mary Hospital Gift Shop.

As a charter member of the Italian Heritage Association, she took great interest in the Association in all activities. She taught Italian dancing for the first ten years while health permitted.

She was a member of St. Francis Catholic Church, St. Ann's Altar Society, Catholic Daughters of the Americas, and the Italian Heritage Association.

For Geri, her children were most important, and she showed it with the big and little things she would do for them. This included cooking their favorite foods, such as her delicious pot roast or stroganoff, and expanding their appreciation for music by providing trumpet, trombone, and violin lessons.

She is survived by her daughter, Sharon Schiller of Walla Walla; sons, Gary (Karen) Schiller of Colton, CA and Stephen (Marilyn) Schiller of La Mirada, CA; brother, David (Lee) Manuel of Enterprise, OR; grandchildren, Daniel (Gabby) Schiller of Oak Harbor, WA, Valerie Schiller of Gresham, OR, Eric and Stacy Schiller of Bozeman, MT, Matthew (Ranelle) Schiller of Apison, TN, Kurtis Schiller of Whittier, CA, and Katelyn Schiller of Los Angeles, CA; great-grandchildren, Tessa and Kinsley of Apison, TN, Leah and James of Oak Harbor, WA; Stepson, John Hartley of Rosalia, WA; nephews, Wayne Manuel of Port Townsend, WA, Ted Galliher of Yuma, AZ. She is preceded in death by her husband, John Hartley, and sister, June Galliher.

Viewing and Visitation will be held Tuesday, August 2, 2022, from 11:00 AM - 6:00 PM, at Herring Groseclose Funeral Home. The Rosary will be recited at St. Francis Catholic Church, 722 W. Alder St., Walla Walla, on Wednesday, August 3, 2022, at 9:30 AM, with Sister Helen Mason officiating. The Funeral Mass will follow at 10:00 AM with Father Curtis Seidel, Celebrant. Burial to follow at Blue Mountain Memorial Gardens.

Memorial donations may be made to the Christian Aid Center through Herring Groseclose Funeral Home, 315 W. Alder St., Walla Walla.