Bartley Nicholes

Bartley Nicholes, a beloved husband, father, brother, son, uncle, educator, and friend was born on October 18,1966 to Ross and JaNae Nicholes. He grew up on Orchard Avenue in American Fork. Bartley always said he had a perfect childhood. He loved playing baseball and playing with neighborhood kids. He attended Greenwood Elementary, American Fork Junior High, and American Fork High School. While in high school he did many activities including marching band, and was a senior class officer for the class of 1984.

After high school Bartley attended Snow College. He also served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in the Atlanta, Georgia mission from 1985-1987.Here he made life long friends and a love for the Atlanta Braves. When he returned home he finished his Associate’s degree at Snow College. He was named Student of the Year in 1988.More importantly he met the love and light of his life, Jennifer.

Bartley and Jennifer were married on February 15th, 1990 in the Salt Lake Temple.Throughout their marriage they made sure to keep dating. Date night was always Fridays and they spent them going to the movies, trying new restaurants, going to plays, picnics in the canyon, going to the library or bookstore to read while holding hands, and many other adventures.

Bartley obtained his dream of becoming a pilot in 1991 and loved flying. In 1992 he joined the Army National Guard where he served his country for 9 years. Bartley graduated from Weber State with a Bachelor’s in Elementary Education in 1996. He also received his Master’sfrom the University of Phoenix in 2002. He taught thousands of students at Columbia Elementary, Greenwood Elementary (his alma mater), Freedom Elementary, and Lehi Elementary.

Throughout his life he picked up many hobbies. Bartley always had a great love for music that he passed on to his children. He played the trumpet and sang in many choirs. He loved building model planes, woodworking, gardening, cooking – especially smoking meats – reading,writing, and traveling. He also was a dedicated fan of BYU sports, the Atlanta Braves, and Cherry Coke (he always joked that it was his serving of fruit for the day). He loved writing so much he published two books and he was working on a few more. Some of his favorite trips were going to Disney parks, any kind of road trip, cruises with Jen, and he even got to go to see the Braves play in the World Series with his son, in Atlanta, a life long dream.

Bartley was a friend to all. He never met a stranger. Though having a sick heart most of his adult life, his heart had the capacity to love enormously. He always had a joyful and happy demeanor. His strength and determination allowed him to live his life to the fullest

Bartley’s favorite title was Dad closely followed by the title of Bompa. His children loved and adored him. He spent countless hours supporting their dreams. He worked multiple jobs for most of his teaching career to support his family. He treated his children with respect and compassion. He rarely missed a performance or a game. He coached many of his kids’ sports teams and volunteered as a Band Dad for the A.F.H.S Marching Band.

He loved and adored his grandchildren and they adore their Bompa. He loved taking them camping and for drives in his BIG truck. He spent hours drawing pictures, reading books,planning trips to take them on, playing Big Tank Little Tank, dressing up as Bompa Claus each Christmas, and creating individual special handshakes for each child. He loved grand-parenting with Jen; it was his favorite season of life. We see his love and joy for life in each of them.

Bartley returned to his Heavenly home on May 20th, 2026. There to greet him were his parents, Ross and JaNae, his oldest brother Sandy, his older sister Juli, and many grandparents,aunts and uncles. He is survived by his wife Jennifer, his children – Lindsey (Makani Rain)Price, Ashley, Bartley Nathan (Julia), Maggey, and Abbey, grandchildren – Raelynne, Rhys,Rovia, Bartley Hansen and Annie, his older brother Todd (Jeanne) Nicholes, baby sister ALee(Jason) Blake, sister-in-law Colleen Nicholes, brother-in-law David Larsen, many nieces and nephews, his TANK family, Gerald and Debbie Murphy, and so many friends.

Our family has been blessed by the miracle that is organ donation. We encourage everyone to register themselves as an organ donor. Find details at: https://www.organdonor.gov/sign-up 

If you were touched by his life in any way, whether directly or through our family, please know we would be honored to gather with you as we celebrate him.

A viewing will take place on Thursday, May 28th, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Anderson & Sons Mortuary, 49 East 100 North, American Fork, and again on Friday at the church from 9:45 to 10:45 a.m. prior to the funeral service. Funeral services will be held on Friday, May 29, 2026,at 11:00 a.m. at the Cedar Hills 11th Ward Chapel, located at 10455 North Ironwood Drive,Cedar Hills, Utah.