Ernest Anson Bartlett, Jr. 78 of Fort Smith passed away Tuesday, November 14, 2017 at Mercy Hospital. Ernest was born August 14, 1939 to Ernest and Opha (Dickerson) Bartlett. He attended Fort Smith High School, where he held leadership positions in a number of student organizations. He attended the University of Missouri and the University of Arkansas where he was a member of the Kappa Sigma Fraternity. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church where he was a founding member of the Discussion Class.

Ernest was a keen historian with an exceptional ability to remember names, dates and places. He was particularly interested in US history and planned many family vacations around travel that included important historical sites. His great passion was being outdoors with his family in his beloved Arkansas and beyond. Many weekends were spent driving through the country, hunting and fishing and in the early days camping most memorably on the Big Mulberry River. Ernest was an entrepreneur his entire life. He was particularly proud of the (large) chicken operation he (and his mother, Opha) ran as a boy and in the later years his small development on Pine Lake south of Fort Smith. He had a special gift for making the mundane seem bigger than life. He was a natural salesman that never lost his enthusiasm for a new opportunity. Ernest was generous to a fault and never hesitated to help anyone in need; family member, friend, acquaintance or stranger.

Ernest was preceded in death by his parents and one sister, Linda (Bartlett) Michler. He is survived by his high school sweetheart and wife of 58 years, Ruth (Jeryo) Bartlett; three sons, Ernest Bartlett III and wife, Kathy of Little Rock, David Bartlett and wife, Louann of Boerne, Texas, Bruce Bartlett and wife, Julianne of San Antonio, Texas; seven grandchildren and three great grandchildren.

Funeral service will be at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, November 18 at First United Methodist Church Roebuck Chapel in Fort Smith with burial at Gracelawn Cemetery in Van Buren under the direction of Ocker Funeral Home of Van Buren. The family will visit with relatives and friends one hour prior to the service in the Narthex Hall at First United Methodist Church.

Pallbearers will be Anson Bartlett, Sutton Bartlett, Winn Bartlett, Robert Viguet, Bill Vines, Allen Hales, Chuck Knapp, Cagle Harrendorf and Randy Eason.

Honorary Pallbearers will be the First United Methodist Church Discussion Class.

Memorial contributions can be made to First United Methodist Church or the charity of choice.

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