Peggy Ann Bartlett

She was preceded in death by her parents and all of her siblings: her eldest sister, Ruth Faye; her eldest brother, David Marrion; James Dudley; and Jessie Alton Miller. She is also preceded in death by her husband, Earl Jay Bartlett of 47 yrs.

At just 15 years old, Mom left her country roots and headed west to El Paso to live with her sister. It was there that she discovered her first love—cosmetology. Peggy’s determination and tenacious spirit were evident from the very beginning. In 1951, at only 16 years old, she became one of the youngest beauticians to receive her beauty license, right here in Austin, Texas—a remarkable accomplishment for a young woman of her time.

She met my daddy, Earl Jay Bartlett, an Airman, at a classic drive-in. After a year of courting, they were married in Las Cruces, New Mexico, on January 1, 1956. At the time, Daddy was serving in the United States Air Force and was stationed at Biggs Air Force Base in El Paso, Texas. Their military life took them on many adventures, including assignments in Anchorage, Alaska; Homestead, Florida; Dover, Delaware; and once again Anchorage, Alaska.

When their time in Alaska came to an end, they returned to El Paso, where Mom opened her own home daycare. This became one of the greatest expressions of her loving heart. For many years, she opened her home and her arms to children, giving love and care to thousands of little ones.

Mom was also deeply involved in her church. She sang in the choir, taught Bible studies, cared for others, and gave freely of her time and love. After 18 years of marriage, my parents were blessed with me in 1975. Mom always said she had been given the best of both worlds—first having the opportunity to travel and experience life with Daddy, and then having the opportunity to stay home and raise her daughter.

My mom was a kind and genuine person. She cared deeply about people and always wanted the best for them. She was generous with her time, her home, her food, and, most of all, her love. After retiring from daycare, she continued sharing that love as a teacher’s aide.

But more than anything, my mom was HOME.

She had a way of making everyone feel at home, too. She made time to listen, to connect, to cook a meal, bake a cake, tell a funny story, or jump into an adventure—whether big or small. She would sing songs at the top of her lungs and never worried too much about whether anyone else knew the words.

Mom was REAL. She was authentic, encouraging, sassy, and quick-witted. She was always ready for a challenge. She claimed everyone as family, spoke truth into people’s lives—whether they were ready to hear it or not—and was never afraid to “tell you like it is.” She was a hoot! She knew how to put a smile on anyone's face, and her own smile was contagious along with her laughter.

She was humble, compassionate, adventurous, and full of life. She did everything out of love.

There was never a car ride she wasn’t ready to take, a trip she wasn’t excited about, a meal she wasn’t ready to enjoy, a song she wasn’t ready to sing along with, or a movie she wasn’t ready to watch. And she would never turn down a good retail therapy session.

The little things are what I will miss most.

Midnight snack sessions and movie marathons are going to hit differently now without my mom beside me. I will miss sharing a cup of coffee with her, hearing her call my name, and having her ask me about my day. I will miss her stories, her laughter, her singing, her honesty, and the way she could make an ordinary day feel extra special.

I am her Rosebud, her only daughter, and I know she loved me with every ounce of her being. I was her world, and she was mine.

Now there is a vacancy in my heart that I know nothing can fill. I still find myself waiting to hear her call my name, waiting to share that cup of coffee, waiting to tell her about my day, but the only thing that awaits me now is silence and a profound sense of emptiness.

But even though my heart is far from peace right now and the void is great, I find comfort in knowing that Mom is finally free from her pain.

Her life was a gift. Her love was a gift. Her home was a gift.

And I will carry her with me for the rest of my life.

I love you, Mom. Forever, your Rosebud.

Until we meet again.

A visitation will be held at Cook-Walden/Capital Parks Funeral Home, 14501 North Interstate 35, Pflugerville, Texas, on September 13, 2026, from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm.

A Butterfly Release will take place at Cook-Walden/Capital Parks Funeral Home, 14501 North Interstate 35, Pflugerville, Texas, on September 13, 2026, at 3:00 pm.