Charles Barty 'Bart' Pirtle

KNOB LICK - Charles Barty "Bart" Pirtle died August 7, 2020, a casualty of the Covid-19 Pandemic. Bart was born in Madison County, Missouri on January 12, 1943, the eldest of the five children of Elmo and Dorothea (Galey) Pirtle. His early years were filled with fishing and hunting with his dad, assorted lighthearted shenanigans, and frequent naps on his grandmother, Mom Galey's sofa. He was a 1961 graduate of Fredericktown High School. Bart married Patricia "Pat" Bayless on Thanksgiving Day, November 25, 1965 at the First Baptist Church of Knob Lick, MO. He enjoyed using his hands, and was "Pat's Handyman" for a good many years. Bart worked his way up the ranks of the Missouri State Highway Department over thirty-six years, retiring as an Inspector in 1999. Never idle, his retirement years included working with several contractors, clerking at a local convenience store, and being a "Bunny Bread' man filling local store bread racks. He enjoyed spending time with family and friends, fishing, turkey hunting, playing a feisty game of Uno with the grandkids or just shooting the breeze. Bart had a natural artistic talent. He was skilled in pen and ink drawings and he relaxed by painting, creating well over 300 paintings in his lifetime. Many family and friends proudly display his stunning art work on their walls. The lifelong Missouri boy moved to Texas in early 2020 to be with his daughter and grandchildren after Pat died. Bart's stay with his beloved family was cut short when it became apparent that memory care would serve him best. Bart joins his parents, his wife, and his grandson, Duncan Rowe Bickle, in heaven. Bart leaves behind his daughter, Shelia Michelle (Pirtle) Bickle, and his grandchildren, Madeline Grace and Sullivan Pierce Bickle; his siblings, Robin Dean Pirtle, Barbara Nell (Pirtle) Stacey, Keith Ann "Candy" (Pirtle) Firebaugh, Harold Bradley "Brad" Pirtle; countless nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. A simple graveside service will be held at the IOOF Cemetery in Knob Lick, Missouri; details pending. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to the Farmington Pet Adoption Center: http://www.farmingtonpet.org.HowToHelp.html.