LORIL JANE HARTMAN, 85, passed away Saturday, August 20, 2016. Born in Fort Wayne, she was the daughter of Scottish concert singer David Baxter and Esther (Heine) Baxter. Music was the lifeblood that ran throughout her career, first as piano teacher and then ballet accompanist under several directors and guest artists with the Fort Wayne Ballet. She was the local Chairman of the National Guild of Piano Teachers, where she not only prepared hundreds of students for auditions but also judged throughout the United States. Loril was an organist and choir director for Gethsemane Lutheran Church. "Our wish is that her love of music, which inspired many to play, sing or dance, will carry on in their lives". She brought a passion and spirit to everything she touched; playing her own compositions, as well as Chopin, Bach and Beethoven until her last moments. "Creativity is God's gift to us. Using our creativity is our gift back to God."Julia Cameron.

She is survived by her children, Cheryl (Lissandros) Vassiliadis of Georgia, Michael (Lisa) Hartman of Fort Wayne and Jeffrey Hartman of St. Joe; brother, David (Grace) Baxter of Fort Wayne; and sister, Judy (Rollo) Leimer of North Carolina; seven grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 48 years, Wilbur "Bud" Hartman; son, Max Hartman; and baby daughter, Loril Hartman.

A Celebration of Loril's life will be 2 p.m., Sunday, September 11, 2016, at Gethsemane Lutheran Church, 1505 Bethany Lane, Fort Wayne. She was laid to rest at Covington Memorial Gardens. Preferred memorials will be to a scholarship fund in her honor.