James Harvey Hartman (Bolivar)'s Obituary
James Harvey Hartman, lovingly known as Jr. to his blended family, passed away on April 9, 2025, at the age of 62. He leaves behind not only a grieving family, but a million good memories that will be cherished forever.
Jr. was a longtime mechanic and truck driver—honest, hardworking trades that he took great pride in. In his later years, he fulfilled a lifelong dream: rebuilding and restoring American muscle cars. Whether he was under the hood or behind the wheel, Jr. had a gift for bringing old engines back to life and a deep appreciation for the roar of a finely tuned machine.
Born in Kansas City, Missouri, to Mabel Elaine and William Caryl. Jr. was one of three siblings. He was preceded in death by his father, his brother David Lyle, his mother, and most recently, his sister Belinda Caryl.
Jr. had a deep love for hot rods, rock ’n’ roll, the Kansas City Chiefs, and tinkering on his projects—but more than anything, he loved his family. He made the best potato soup you’d ever taste and had a unique way of making even the smallest moments feel special.
He is survived by his children, Tyler and Angela Hartman; and his stepchildren, Carmen and Adam Jones, Lacy and Jozef Hembree, and Josh Mitchell. He will be deeply missed by his granddaughters, Ava Hernandez and Adalyn Jones, who he absolutely adored, as well as by his former spouses, Kathy and Cassondra Hartman.
Jr. showed up when it counted. It’s impossible to measure the impact he made or express how deeply he will be missed. Whether you called him Pappy, Papa, James, Jim, Jr., or Dad—you were truly lucky to know him.
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