Nancy Ellen (Robb) Hartman

Nancy Ellen (Robb) Hartman, age 61, of California, Mo., passed away suddenly on Tuesday, October 27, 2020, at St. Mary's Hospital in Jefferson City, Mo. Nancy was born in Iola, Kan., to Rex and Delores Robb on July 6, 1959. Nancy married Steve Hartman of Tipton on July 16, 1983, in Rich Hill, Mo. Nancy began school in Moran, Kan. In her third grade year, her family moved to Rich Hill, Mo. Nancy graduated from Rich Hill High School in 1977. She attended CMSU in Warrensburg, Mo. and obtained a teaching degree with an emphasis in special education. She continued her education in 1990 earning her Master of Education degree from CMSU. She did her student teaching at Clarksburg CII in 1981. She began her teaching career under contract there the following year. Nancy retired from Clarksburg CII after 33 years in 2014. Through her years there, she taught in almost all the grade levels, teaching in the middle school grades upon her retirement. Since retirement, she substituted and covered maternity leaves every year, mostly in the California elementary and middle school grades, but also some in Clarksburg and Tipton. She had the God-given gift for teaching kids of all ages, and she has passed on her love of education to her own children, Nicole and Robb. Teaching and investing in her students was a lifelong passion. Nancy loved her daily life with Steve and their trips to Nashville and the beach. She also loved spending time with her sisters, family, local friends, on Forever Friends trips, and cooking. Her other passion was simply being around people to help them with whatever was needed and would try her best to put a smile on their faces. She could also be stern and was known to have school rules you didn't cross. She had a gift for explaining that she was the teacher and it was her job to teach and maintain some sort of order in the classroom so that all her kids could learn. Nevertheless, she always made sure her students knew how much she cared about them. She loved seeing her students accomplish their goals inside and outside of the classroom. Whether it was an encouraging word or a familiar face in the crowd, she truly embodied the phrase "once my student, always my student." She is survived by her husband, Steve, and son, Robb, of the home; her daughter, Nicole Barbour (Matt) of Lee's Summit, Mo.; sisters, Debbie Bradley (Bill) of Rich Hill, Mo., Laurie Seubert (Bill) of O'Fallon, Mo., Jennifer Byers (Blair) of Joplin, Mo.; brother, Jim Robb of Joplin, Mo.; nieces, Chrissie Bradley of Rich Hill, Mo., Mandi Jordan of Nevada, Mo., Jackie Bradley of Oklahoma, November Crandall with grandniece Brynlee of Joplin, Mo., and Kara Enyeart of Laramie, Wyo.; nephews, Alex Seubert of Austin, Texas, Luke Seubert of Kansas City, Mo., Alonzo Byers of Joplin, Mo., Blake Bradley of Rich Hill, Mo., Matthew Hartman of Witchita, Kan., and Eric Hartman of Palm Beach, Fla. Also surviving is a very special group of gals known as "The Forever Friends" - Nancy's partners for occasional girls' outings. They shared a special bond to be there for each other, and that is what they do! She was preceded in death by her parents and her mother- and father-in-law, John and Virginia Hartman of Tipton, Mo. Funeral Service was held Saturday, October 31 at Tipton United Methodist Church in Tipton, Mo. with Reverend Drew Hake officiating. One of Nancy's passions since her retirement was volunteering at the Special Learning Center in Jefferson City, Mo. Please direct memorials to this special facility via Windmill Ridge Funeral Service, PO Box 443, California, MO 65018. Online messages to the family may be contributed at www.windmillridgefuneralservice.com.