Marilee Hartley

Marilee “Sissy” Hartley passed away at the Bethany Calgary Care Center on Saturday, July 19, 2025, in Calgary, Alberta, Canada at the age of 93 years. She lived in Odessa, Texas until her mid-twenties. She was the younger of two daughters of Jerry Emiah and Mildred Olive Hobson.

Sissy was always active in her communities. She was very involved in high school sports, cheerleading and was a top student. She graduated from high school at 16 and Southern Methodist University at 20 years old with a degree in Commercial Arts. After graduating she married her high school sweetheart, Herman Scarbrough “Scobey” Hartley. Sissy worked in the advertising field while Scobey finished college.

With the help of her parents, she and Scobey developed a drilling tool rental company which familiarized them with the Calgary oil and gas community. In 1958 they moved to Calgary to establish their company, build a life and raise four children. In the 1970’s they moved to Springbank and established Deerwood Farms to raise Hereford cattle and then Quarter Horses.

Sissy and Scobey were both tireless supporters of their communities including the Springbank Park for all Seasons, the Oil and Gas Community, the Alberta Quarter Horse Association and Ralph Klein and the Progressive Conservative Party of Alberta.

Sissy is survived by four children, Joel (Jeann), Ward (Maria), Holly (Patrick) and Lee (Allison). She also leaves behind 8 grandchildren and one great grandchild. Her husband, Scobey, passed away in 2006.

Sissy had a passion for horses, family and friends. Her greatest pleasure was to combine them all together at the cabin in Bragg Creek or at the farm in Springbank. If you wanted to git’er done, Sissy was the gal to do it! We will miss you cowgirl.

Thank you to Scenic Acres Retirement Centre Memory Care and Bethany Calgary for their kindness and care of our mom for the past 7+ years.

A private Memorial Service will be held with family at a later date.

If friends so desire, in lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made directly to the AARCS Safe Haven Alberta Animal Rescue Crew Society via their website: aarcs.ca