Colten Tyrel Hartley

Colten Tyrel Hartley was born June 19, 1989 at 11:30 p.m. at the Southeast Colorado Hospital in Springfield, Colorado to Rick and Pam Hartley. He was the youngest of four children, joining his brother Jered Ray and sisters Brooke Jaree and TeNeil Jade. He departed this life on April 4, 2009 at the age of 19. Colten attended preschool, grade school and high school in Springfield, graduating on May 10, 2008 as a valedictorian. He was enrolled as an engineering student at Colorado School of Mines at the time of his death. However, he had recently decided to redesign his education path and had applied and been accepted to the Colorado State University in Fort Collins where he planned to pursue a degree in Construction Management starting in Fall of 2009. Colten's school career is replete with numerous activities and academic and leadership awards. He was a member of the Future Business Leaders of America and held the office of vice president both his junior and senior years, was inducted in the National Honor Society his sophomore year serving as President his senior year, he earned an Academic Letter all four years of high school, received outstanding student awards in many of his classes each year and was listed on the semester's honor roll every semester from grade school through high school. At the end of his junior year in high school he was awarded the Colorado School of Mines Medal of Achievement in Math and Sciences. Sports were another important part of Colten's school career. He participated in Football, Basketball, Track, Baseball and Golf, earning varsity letters in track, football and golf. As a trackster he served as the team's co-captain and captain and qualified to compete at state in the 4 x 100, 4 x 400 relay and 300 hurdles. During his junior and senior high football career, he played the positions of quarterback, wide receiver and defensive back. His excellent grades and sports particiaption qualified him to be recognized as a CHSAA Academic All-State first team. Just barely a year ago Colten's picture and school biography appeared several times in the local news announcements as the recipient of a college scholarship. He was awarded scholarships from the R.B. Holt Foundation, the Laura Holt scholarship fund, Rutherford Foundation, the Emma Belle Tolbert Charitable Trust, People's Credit Union, Elks Most Valuable Student, CHSAA/Gatorade and Aaron Hale and Zelma Thompson Hale. He had recently been accepted into the Officer Candidate Selection Program of the U.S. Marine Corp and would have been attending a 6 week leadership training in Virginia this summer. Colten was a devoted son, brother, grandson, nephew, friend and student. He was fortunate to have a wonderful circle of family and friends who he loved and who loved him. Both his parents and all three siblings survive him. He also leaves behind his paternal grandparents Pete and Charlene Hartley and maternal grandparents Bob and Wilma Hannafious, uncles and aunts Randy and Sharon Hartley, Kim and Mindy Hannafious and Linda Hartley and numerous friends and relatives.