Roberta Ellen Hartman

It is with great sadness we announce the passing of Roberta Ellen Hartman (Harrison) born July 16, 1945 in Kamloops, BC to Bob Sr. and Eileen Harrison of Duck Range after a hard fought battle with cancer. Roberta was predeceased by her older brothers Ken Harrison of Kamloops in 2000 and Bob Harrison of Duck Range earlier this year.

Roberta is survived by her husband of 52 years Will Hartman, Surrey, son Tony Hartman of Burnaby, daughter Michelle (Murray) McLeod of Surrey, grandchildren Sarah, Caden and Macey, Brother Al (Jean) Harrison of Kamloops, and sister Sue (Doug) Inkster of Chase, as well as numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

Roberta’s early years were spent on the family ranch (homesteaded by her grandfather, William Harrison). By the time she was 9 or 10 modern conveniences arrived including indoor plumbing and electricity which were such a treat. She hated the outhouse (and the snakes she saw along the path to it) and sharing the water with her brothers. She attended a 1 room school house (8-10 students) in Duck Range. Her older brothers took care of her (and others they picked up along the way) as they walked the gravel road to school and back in all weather conditions (snow, freezing temperatures and blistering heat) until she completed grade 8. As there was no school bus route from the family ranch to town it meant moving 27 miles away to her grandparents (Donnie and Susie Allan) in Falkland. Roberta rode the bus to school every day and this is where she caught the eye of her future husband, Will. A couple of years later roads and situations improved so she moved back home and attended high school in Kamloops and helped care for her 2 younger siblings.

Roberta and Will were married on June 6th, 1964 in Kamloops. Will was already working for the bank and they started the first chapter of their married life in Port Moody. Through the years the bank took them on many adventures to a variety of different communities. Although they were a distance from family and friends they made many trips home to visit. While living in Lillooet and working for Social Services Roberta was approached by a senior social worker who asked if she would be willing to foster Billy, a 15 year old boy. Billy stayed with them for a number of years and is still a part of their family today.

Over the next several years they moved numerous times throughout BC which included the Okanagan, Cariboo, and Kootenays. Roberta’s successes and accomplishments were many and varied. They were built upon meeting new people, adapting to new surroundings, exploring new job opportunities (restaurants, offices) and starting a family of their own. Roberta was a self-taught, talented and skilled ceramic artist and she opened her own teaching studio which opened up opportunities to travel and share and perfect her craft.

The next several years took Roberta to new towns and new professions but at the heart of it all was caring for her children and family. In 1986 they returned to the Lower Mainland. Here she obtained her Real Estate and Property Management Licenses and during this time met new friends and enjoyed working with people.

In 2000 Will and Roberta moved to Coquitlam where Roberta became the Property Manager for several apartment buildings. As their own children were grown, Roberta “adopted” many of the families and students that were living away from home.

Roberta’s pride and joy were her 3 grandchildren. Nothing made her light up more than a visit or a story about what they were up to. She was able to enjoy them even more when they retired in July of 2011. She always had a project on hand when they visited to teach them one of her many crafts which they loved and likewise she loved watching them in their activities; swimming, baseball, hockey, and dancing.

Roberta was talented in so many areas. Those that were so fortunate to know her benefited from her talents such as sewing, baking, canning, photography, and Christmas crafts (Santa came to her house for decorating ideas). She was always making something for someone else. It doesn’t matter where Roberta was living or what job she was doing, her family was always her priority. She was a confident, strong person and her positive attitude was like no other. She will be dearly missed by her family and friends in all corners of the province.

A Celebration of Life will be held Monday, August 15th from 12:00-3:00pm at Peace Arch Provincial Park in White Rock, BC. Please bring your lawn chair and join us for a “Picnic in the Park” as we share stories and memories of Roberta. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Canadian Cancer Society or BC Children’s Hospital Foundation.

Arrangements under the direction of First Memorial Funeral Services, Fraser Heights Chapel, Surrey, BC.