Obituaries

Rose Marie Stuart Bartsch

Photo of Rose Marie Stuart Bartsch
Rose Marie Stuart Bartsch, age 89, of Little Rock, passed away Saturday, January 13, 2018 surrounded by family. She was born August 17, 1928 to Loretta Jane Early and Thomas H. Stuart in Brinkley, Arkansas. She was a 1947 graduate of Mt. St. Mary Academy in Little Rock. She was a devoted wife and mother. She was the holder of her devout Catholic faith for her six children. Funny and kind, she never had a cross word to say about another. (Unless you messed with someone she loved). By her presence her home was full of life. There was always an old movie or music playing, laughter, and people in and out, most of them kids from the neighborhood. As dedicated as she was to her family, she devoted time for volunteer work. She was a Girl Scout leader and a Cub Scout den mother for her kids and to this day most still remember her with honor with special reminders of that "that's my den mother." Rose Marie was the first woman in the state of Arkansas to receive the Boy Scout Silver Fawn Award, which is the highest award given to an adult woman in Scouting. Rosie loved games of all kinds, and she always had a word find book with her. She was a wicked Scrabble player and would drive others who played cards with her crazy with "Kings on the corner". Her sense of humor was abundant. You would think she was born to vaudeville with her one liners. "What's up?" "The sky"; Whatcha doing? Mildewing; "How are you feeling?" "With my hands"; "Can I get you anything?" "A million dollars." She was known to give nick-names to things that may have needed modesty such as calling the restroom "Mrs. Murphy", and an alcoholic drink an "err-ra-ra". Above all was her faith. As proof, was her tattered prayer book with many newspaper clippings of friends and family who had passed this life here on earth, her fingers slipping over the pages as she would sit with eyes closed, saying the prayers written inside the book but no longer needing to be seen. Her lips moving without sound as she prayed. She was living faith. She attended the first Cursillo retreat in Arkansas and was immediately selected to serve as a Leader for future CURSILLO retreats and the talk on piety she was assigned to present truly exemplified her innermost being. Rosie is survived by her children, Tom (Jennifer) Bartsch, Paul (Gwen) Bartsch, Debbie (Don) Jones, John (Erin) Bartsch, Tricia (Andy) Gentry and Jean (Clint) Davis; 18 grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren; her sisters, Ann Hooper of Little Rock and Jean Gordon of California; brother,Thomas Stuart of Little Rock; and her sister-in-law, Mary Louise Cockman of Maumelle. She was predeceased by her loving husband,Joseph F. Bartsch; parents, Loretta Jane Early Stuart and Thomas Henry Stuart; Josephia Stuart Shannon, Shreveport, Louisiana; and Patricia Stuart Garner, Atlanta, Georgia. The family would like to express its gratitude and thanks to the members of Colonel Glenn Nursing and Rehab and Hospice Home Care who became part of our extended family for their exceptional care, support, love, and guidance through this journey with our mother. Funeral services will be held today, Wednesday, January 17 at 11 a.m. at Our Lady of the Holy Souls Catholic Church in Little Rock by Monsignor Scott Friend and Fr. Erik Pohlmeier. Visitation with family will be held prior to the service beginning at 10:30 a.m. Private family burial. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Mt. St. Mary's Academy and Catholic High School for Boys. Yes, the sun will shine tomorrow, the earth will turn. The world will go about its business. But for those who loved Rose Marie Bartsch, the sun will not seem as bright, the rotation of this globe will slow just a bit, and the business of life will have to wait...just for now. Arrangements by Little Rock Funeral Home, (501) 224-2200. Mrs. Bartsch's online guestbook may be signed at www.littlerockfuneralhome.com.

Published January 17, 2018

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