Hartman Rector, Jr. died of natural causes on November 6, 2018 in Provo, Utah, at the age of 94.  He was closely attended by several of his children at the time of his passing.  He was an extraordinary man whose life made an indelible mark upon uncountable numbers of people around the world.  Indeed, the world will not quite be the same without him. Hartman Rector, Jr. was born on August 20, 1924 on a farm outside Moberly, Missouri.  He was the youngest child of Hartman Rector, Sr. and Vivian Faye Garvin.  His two older sisters were Mary Margaret and Marjorie.  From early on, he displayed the optimism and happiness that would be defining characteristics of his long life.  Before graduating from high school in Moberly, Missouri, he met his soul mate, Constance Kirk Daniel, also of Moberly, whom he would marry a few years later, after he had joined the navy.  By the time of the Korean War, Hartman had become an aviator stationed on the aircraft carrier USS Philippine Sea.  As a squadron captain, Hartman flew over one-hundred "night attack" sorties over Korea, on one occasion, having to ditch his beloved but badly damaged Douglas A1 Skyraider into the Sea of Japan.  During the war, both Hartman and Connie joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Hartman while at sea, and Connie on base back in San Diego).  After the war, and some time living in Hawaii, the couple—now with four children in tow—moved to Washington, D.C. (the Pentagon) where Hartman was transferred to implement a world-wide program for training pilots.  It was during this time that David O. McKay picked Hartman out of obscurity to become the first convert General Authority of the Church in 83 years.  The family moved to Salt Lake City, Utah, in 1968, where Hartman's long tenure as a General Authority began.  Before becoming "Emeritus" in 1994 at the age of 70, Hartman served for over 26 years in the First Council/Quorum of the Seventy.  As a Seventy, his callings included serving as mission presidents in Italy; Tallahassee, Florida; and San Diego, California.  He also served in the Area Presidency of the South America/North missions.  It was during this long stretch of mission-related service that Hartman's unique influence—his love of humanity, perennial optimism, boundless energy, interpersonal warmth and openness, self-confidence, authentic Southern demeanor, and heart-warming sense of humor—impacted the lives of so many people.  Hartman and Connie were also the authors of several books, the best known of which were the No More Strangers series, which sold several hundred thousand copies, quite a feat in those days.  Hartman's omnipresent emphasis on enhancing the reach and effectiveness of missionary work culminated in his own seminal work, Already to Harvest , which became a staple training manual for missionaries around the world for decades.       After becoming Emeritus, Hartman continued an active life of service well into his eighties, traveling with Connie to many parts of the world to speak informally (including to Israel fifteen times) whether to church groups or to fund-raise for various causes—seeming to respond to any request made to speak or be present, so long as it involved inspiring others to be better people.  Indeed, this will be the lasting legacy of this great man—encouraging others to become better disciples of Jesus than they were before.               Hartman was preceded in death by his beloved wife Connie (2015), and his son Daniel (2002).  He is survived by 8 of his 9 children: Joel Kirk Rector, Kathryn Garven Fales, Laura Constance Aston, Linda Ball, Lila "Pie" Tueller, Tuvae Rector, John Marcus Rector, and Lucinda Morey.  He has 51 grandchildren, and 60 great grandchildren.  Hartman is also survived by nephews Mark and Michael Armstrong, and Joelyn Andrews, his niece.  Funeral services will be held at the Cascade Stake Center (481 E. Center Street, Orem, UT) at 11:00 a.m.  Family and friends may visit, Friday, November 16, 2018, 6:00 - 8:00 p.m., Walker Sanderson Funeral Home, 646 East 800 North, Orem and prior to services 9:30 - 10:30 a.m. at the church. Grave-side and interment services will be held at the Salt Lake Cemetery, near the upper wall along 11th Avenue, in Salt Lake City. Military Rites to be performed by the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.walkersanderson.com