‘Senior' activities director takes her own advice

ST. MARYS - Evelyn "Evie" Hartley is not unlike the senior citizens with whom she works. She leads an active, robust lifestyle that includes not only a full-time job but several grandchildren, volunteer efforts and hobbies, including the lure of the open road.

"We motorcycle," the 65-year-old Hartley said. "When you're on your bike, it's wonderful. You feel the wind. You feel the sun. You're roaming free. I love it."

Hartley and her husband of 16 years, Edward, travel together on a 1993 Honda Goldwing. Sometimes the trips are simple. Other times they involve distance and rallies.

"We meet up with friends and cruise," Hartley said, "We go to Bellefontaine and get ice cream or we grab a bucket of chicken and go to the lake and picnic. In 2006, we went to a Goldwing rally - they're called Wing Dings - in Billings, Mont. We drove more than 8,000 miles from here to there and went through the Grand Tetons, Yellowstone, Wyoming. It was wonderful, wonderful, wonderful.

"Free, that's how I felt on that trip," she added with a grin. "You see God's creation right there in front of you. Each state we went through was gorgeous."

In 2008, the Hartleys went to a Wing Ding at Greenville, S.C. They also volunteer with Goldwing Chapter U out of Celina. Hartley has held a number of offices with the group and has helped organize several local Wing Dings.

Hartley is employed as the activities director at the Auglaize County Council on Aging and is an active volunteer at her church, Shekinah Temple.

Hartley has been with the Council on Aging for more than 10 years. She is charged with providing a variety of activities for local seniors, including dances, games, exercise programs, meals, music and classes on topics such as computers, quilting and woodworking.

"My goal is to help the seniors get their mind, body and spirit working together," Hartley said. "Part of my job is to create new programs geared to a new generation of senior citizens and they are different than those in past. They're living longer. They're into exercise and wellness. They're more active.

"I love my job," she added. "I love the seniors. I want to give back to them."

Hartley has been a volunteer at Shekinah Temple for more than 30 years.

"I volunteer at worship and praise services," Hartley said. "I teach Sunday school. I've painted walls. I've cleaned bathrooms. I've done everything. It's a small church so we all just pitch in. We have a food pantry and we give food baskets at Christmas. It's about reaching out to others. It's about service to people and God. He's No. 1. I wouldn't be here now if it wasn't for him. I'd just be a spot of grease."

Hartley has four children, Sheena Warren, Anissa Davis, Aaron Schuller, and Catherine "Casey" Blair, and a stepson, Mike Hartley. She also has 10 grandchildren, including a set of twins, and a newborn, who arrived Feb. 11.

"I think it's wonderful to have so many grandkids," Hartley said. "That's the highlight of my life, the grandkids."