A photo of Jeff Monreal, owner and operator of Jeff Monreal Funeral Homes posing in a black suit with no background

Painesville Location

1000 Mentor Avenue Painesville, Ohio 44077

Willoughby Location

38001 Euclid Avenue Willoughby, Ohio 44094

Mentor Location

6330 Center Street Mentor, Ohio 44060

Evan N. Bartley

07/18/2003 — 08/10/2017

A close-up photo of Evan N. Bartley looking in the distance inquisitively with a slight smile

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”

  1. Bill and Debbie Ward August 11, 2017 at 2:19 pm

    Our prayers are with you and your family.

    Reply

  2. The Park Family August 12, 2017 at 12:17 am

    Our deepest sympathy to you at this difficult time. Rest In Peace Evan!

    Reply

  3. Prayers with you at this difficult time. I love you so much and am thinking of you always.

    Reply

  4. My deepest condolences so sorry for your loss. May God walk beside you during this difficult time.

    Reply

  5. Diana brecheisen August 12, 2017 at 12:59 am

    Prayers go out to the family

    Reply

  6. Brian & Gina Grieb August 12, 2017 at 1:35 am

    Our thoughts are with you & your family during this difficult time

    Reply

  7. My thoughts and prayers are with you. I am so sorry for your loss. God bless you all…

    Reply

  8. God bless you all. I’m so sorry.

    Reply

  9. Tammy (Bowersock) Hall August 12, 2017 at 2:33 am

    Bart I am so very sorry for your loss! Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family!

    Reply

  10. Eric, I am so sorry for your loss. You will be in my prayers

    Reply

  11. 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.

    Reply

  12. Prayers to y’all and may the beautiful memories comfort you in these times of grief. Many Prayers, Sandy

    Reply

  13. Heidi Johnson Bogue August 12, 2017 at 9:17 am

    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.

    Reply

  14. Cheryl VanDemark August 12, 2017 at 11:14 am

    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.

    Reply

  15. 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

    Reply

  16. So sorry for your loss. Thoughts and prayers from my family to yours. Love you Bartley .

    Reply

  17. God bless you all! I’m so sorry for your loss.

    Reply

  18. Adam Dudziak and Memorial Middle School August 12, 2017 at 1:58 pm

    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

    Reply

  19. I am so sorry to hear of your loss! My thoughts and prayers are with all of you!

    Reply

  20. Diane and Jeff Girbino August 12, 2017 at 4:24 pm

    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.

    Reply

  21. The Ritt Family August 12, 2017 at 4:37 pm

    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!❤

    Reply

  22. The McCormick Family August 12, 2017 at 4:52 pm

    Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family at this difficult time.

    Reply

  23. Julie Pry and family August 12, 2017 at 5:30 pm

    God bless your family. A thousand years is but a day, a day like a thousand years. You will be together some day.

    Reply

  24. Eric and Nancy,

    We are so sorry for your loss. You are in our thoughts.

    Mike, Wendy, Rachel & Brandon Adams

    Reply

  25. 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.

    Reply

  26. Darrell Haskins August 12, 2017 at 8:00 pm

    Coach Bart and rest of family, my deepest condolences.

    Reply

  27. Surrounding family and friends with love and strength.
    May you fly high Evan, free of seizures. RIP xxx

    Reply

  28. The Krebs Family August 12, 2017 at 10:32 pm

    Thoughts and prayers for you and your family.

    Reply

  29. 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…

    Reply

  30. Marsha m bennett August 13, 2017 at 1:09 am

    Prayer family and friend he alway in your heart ❤️

    Reply

  31. 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 …

    Reply

  32. 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.

    Reply

  33. Hunter Giammaria August 13, 2017 at 9:32 am

    I was fortunate to know Evan and we grew close. I will miss him very much.

    Reply

  34. The Perrico Family August 13, 2017 at 10:52 am

    Our thoughts and prayers are with your family! We are so very sorry for your loss! Rest In Peace Evan!

    Reply

  35. The Lime (Turner) family August 13, 2017 at 4:40 pm

    We are so sorry for your loss. Thinking of you and sending prayers. God bless your family.

    Reply

  36. Karl & Sylvia Hershiser August 14, 2017 at 2:33 am

    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!

    Reply

  37. Thoughts & Prayers are with you all, Prayers of Peace & Comfort! Fly High sweet Angel

    Reply

  38. RIP

    Prayers and a big hug to all family from Portugal.

    Reply

  39. Roger Sustar-Mentor Rotary August 14, 2017 at 11:41 am

    Sorry to see Evan has left us. Enjoyed seeing him at Rotary Christmas parties over the years.

    Reply

  40. Barbara & Frank Ulizzi August 14, 2017 at 12:18 pm

    Nancy
    Words cannot express how sad we feel for your loss. You are in our prayers.

    Reply

  41. 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

    Reply

  42. 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.

    Reply

  43. Karl & Sylvia Hershiser August 15, 2017 at 12:13 am

    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.

    Reply

  44. Kathy Grunmeier August 15, 2017 at 4:28 am

    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!

    Reply

  45. Nancy, Eric, Louise and Gary, August 16, 2017 at 1:23 pm

    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

    Reply

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