Robert L Bartlett

BARTLETT, Robert L. age 70 of Nashville. Preceded in death by his father, Luke Byron Bartlett; wife, Patricia Ann Bartlett. Survived by his sons, Robert L. (Salena) Bartlett, Jr., Brian (Linda) Bartlett; Jimmy (Janet) Tibbs; daughters, Peggy (Tracy) Pendergrass, Michelle (Casey) Bohr; grandchildren, Lewis Miller, Taylor Bartlett, Sierra Bartlett; Luke Bartlett, Thomas Bartlett, Joseph Tibbs, Gloria Tibbs, Peyton Bohr, Kennedy Bohr, Casey Bohr, Jr., Gauge Pendergrass, Grey Pendergrass; mother, Rebecca Doris Bartlett; 5 brothers and 5 sisters. Funeral service to be conducted 2:00 p.m. Tuesday September 27, 2011 in Hermitage Funeral Home Chapel with Dr. Chuck Groover officiating. Entombment to follow in Hermitage Memories Mausoleum. Visitation with the family will be Monday from 4-8 p.m. and 2 hours prior to the service on Tuesday. Condolences may be offered at www.hermitagefh.com. Arrangements by HERMITAGE FUNERAL HOME 535 Shute Lane Old Hickory, TN 37138 (615) 889-0361.

Proverbs 10:7 says "A good and honest life is a blessed memorial." Robert Lee Bartlett lived a good and honest life. In fact we should say the life he lived is his memorial. Robert's life could read like a book with each chapter describing a different aspect of the life he lived. Much of what you will hear today, Robert's family presented to me to share with you.

Robert Lee Bartlett was born September 15, 1941 and departed to his reward on September 24, 2011 at the age of 70. Robert was born in Emory Gap, Roane County, Tennessee to parents Rebecca Doris Bartlett and Luke Byron (Jack) Bartlett. He was the 6th of eleven children. His Mother Doris (Granny) is 96 years old and she is here with us today, but his Father Jack has already passed. Robert is survived by his 5 sisters and 5 brothers; Jean, Ann, Jackie, Turman, Edward, Mable Joyce, James, Mary Ruth, David and Steve.

Robert served in the U.S. Navy as a Boatswain's Mate from 1961 to 1965 primarily in Japan during the Vietnam War. After returning home from the Navy, he married Mary Frances McBroom and had his sons, Robert Lee Bartlett, Jr. in 1968 and Brian Keith Bartlett in 1969. He has three step daughters, Connie, Kay and Lisa. After 15 years, their marriage ended in 1983. Later he met Pat and in 1985, Robert and Patricia Ann Campbell married. With this marriage, Robert gained four step children; Jimmie, Peggy, Michelle and Chet. Robert had thirteen grandchildren; Lewis Miller, Taylor and Sierra Bartlett, Luke and Thomas Bartlett, Katarina, Joseph and Gloria Tibbs, Gauge and Grey Pendergrass, and Peyton, Kennedy and Casey Bohr, Jr.

Though Robert had a tough cowboy type exterior, he really was a very tender-hearted man, especially when it came to his grandkids. Robert loved to have a good time and cause others to laugh. Nothing made Robert happier than to kid around and bug people, especially his good neighbor and friend Mike (by the way, "Where is my change?"). Music provided Robert with a lot of joy, especially those that told funny stories. He enjoyed pulling out his VCR tape and watching Ray Stevens' videos and loved the Mississippi Squirrel Revival.

The cornerstone of Robert's life was his great love for his family. Robert loved his Mom and Dad as well as his Aunts; Ruth, Mary and Judy. Robert shared everyone's love for Granny's home cooking and loved her homemade canned hot pickles and canned tomato juice. He loved his children and could not have been any prouder of his son Rob's 9 years of military service in the Coast Guard and of Brian's 3.5 years in the Navy. The children that came into his life by marriage became an added blessing to him. His grandchildren were the apple of his eye. Robert also loved all of his brothers and sisters very much. As you know, Robert had a gift for telling stories and he did not shy away from sharing them with whoever would listen. Many of his stories were based on actual events he shared with his brothers and sisters during their childhood, often highlighting getting into trouble with Edward. Another favorite story involved running out of gas while pulling one of Uncle Curly's Studebakers. Family was important to Robert and he wanted to spend as much time as he could with them. Whether on his pontoon boat on the lake, camping on the islands of Percy Priest Lake, or spending a Saturday night at the fairgrounds racetrack, he looked forward to every moment. Fishing for catfish and crappie was simply icing on the cake for Robert. The significance Robert had on family lead him to become like a Father to many in his family and even to sharing a special bond with Adalyn Swinford after the passing of her own Father.

But Robert also experienced trying times as a result of his great love for family with the loss of loved ones in an untimely manner. For instance, his wife Mary's daughter Kay passed away while in her twenties. Pat's son, Chet passed away at age 15 and Jimmie and Janet's daughter, Katarina passed away as an infant. Likewise, Pat passed away suddenly in 2004 of a heart attack. Following this, Robert suffered a debilitating stroke in 2007 that left him paralyzed on his left side and led to his grandson Lewis moving in to assist with his care. In 2010, Robert was diagnosed with skin cancer receiving treatments that allowed him another year with us. Throughout his aches and pains, Robert maintained a good spirit about him. Each of these experiences led Robert to make the most of every opportunity to love those close to him. As you know, the cancer ultimately spread to his lungs and would take his life at his home peacefully in his sleep early Saturday morning, September 24, 2011.

Robert loved life and people. He left his imprint on so many who knew him. If you were Robert's friend you had a friend for life. Robert also enjoyed country music; George Jones being his favorite, western movies, and University of Tennessee football. He was a big fan of the race track at the fairgrounds and could be found there on many Saturday nights with his family. NASCAR was in his blood and Dale Earnhardt and the black number 3 Chevy was his favorite. In fact, Robert, Pat and Lewis would take vacation in September in Darlington for the NASCAR race and finish the vacation in Myrtle Beach always staying at the Jamaican Inn. Robert was also known to enjoy a cold Budweiser, Hav-a-Tampa cigars, Canadian Mist, and Gin and Tonics. His favorite gathering places with his buddies was the Spot or at Eddies. Robert was a painter by trade and was a superintendent at the Franklin Decorating Company. He was a good provider for this family. As we have mentioned, he had a great love for his family, but the two real loves in his life were his first wife Mary and of course his wife Pat. With this in mind the family has chosen the following song by Robert's favorite country singer, George Jones for today's service. He Stopped Loving her Today by George Jones.

Robert told many good stories throughout his life and while living his life to the fullest he created many stories for his family to remember and share, but it is as if he was saving the best story for last. Though Robert did not often talk about God, he did believe in God and on the day before his death, he confirmed his trust in the Lord by accepting Jesus Christ as his Savior. Robert's salvation as with any other was not determined by when or what led to his trust in the Lord. The assurance of Robert's salvation is determined by God's love for him and God's amazing grace. Robert's decision to call on the name of the Lord before his death sealed a great promise for him. Robert no longer feels the pain of cancer or the loss of loved ones and one day all who are in Christ will be reunited with him in heaven. And just as the old hymn says, When we all get to heaven what a day of rejoicing that will be because Robert will be standing with Jesus to welcome us home. Jesus spoke these words long ago: "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever, believes in Him would not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16) Likewise, Acts 2:21 records God's promise: "Whoever calls on the Name of the Lord will be saved."

If this is true and we know it is, then what is our take away from this gathering today as we remember the life of Robert Lee Bartlett? First, that God is a gracious God, patient and merciful in His forgiveness and salvation. And second, faith leads to a great hope that reaches far beyond the sorrow of death. Let me leave you with 1 Thessalonians 4: 13-18. Now we can comfort one another knowing that Robert has gone on to his eternal rest.