Mr. Ronald Braden Bartlett

Ron’s greatest joy was his family, especially his children and grandchildren. He was blessed with many great experiences and lived a very full, happy life.

Ron is survived by his wife of 46 years Claudia Anne Johnson Bartlett, son Alexander Norman Bartlett, daughter Elizabeth Laura Bartlett Covell, son-in-law Halen Micheal Covell, grandsons Braden Henry Covell and Kaedyn Sawyer Covell, step granddaughter Lyla Ann Covell, sisters-in-law Judith Johnson Paykoc and Cathy Harris Johnson, brother-in-law Cagri Paykoc, niece Carrie Paykoc, nephews Chris Johnson, Brad Johnson, Jon Paykoc, and Altan Paykoc. He is also survived by many cousins including Vergie Wight, Joyce Hardesty, and Homer Lee Wells.

A few years ago, Ron wrote the following summary of his life to be shared with family and friends:

“Ronald Braden Bartlett was born February 22, 1936, in St. John's Hospital, Iola, Kansas to Henry Alton Bartlett and Laura Bernice Wells Bartlett. The Bartletts lived in the rural Iola and Moran area until 1944 when they bought a farm near Colony where Ron entered elementary school. After a sojourn to San Antonio, Texas, the Bartletts returned to their farm near Colony. Hank and other locals were successful in getting rural districts to consolidate into Carlyle where Ron graduated 8th grade. He attended Colony High School for two years and graduated from Iola Senior High in 1953 and later graduated from Allen County Community College. He attended Kansas University and worked for the KANU radio station.

He was Inventory Control Clerk and became Office Manager in the Kansas City Branch of Columbia Records until 1958 when he enlisted in the US Army. After basic training and administration school in Ft Leonard Wood, MO, he was transferred to the 7th Infantry Division in Korea as Administrative Asst. in the Adjutant General's office. After that 13-month tour, he was transferred to Ft Myer, VA as Administrative Assistant and Court Reporter for the Judge Advocate. Later he was assigned special duty as stenographer in the Department of Defense in the Pentagon and accompanied officials (including Daniel Ellsberg) to Vietnam who were determining ground war capabilities in southeast Asia. After a 6-month extension because of the Berlin crisis, he remained in Washington and worked for Walter L. McVey, a Kansas Member of the U. S. Congress in the House of Representatives. After McVey was defeated in an election, Ron went to work for F.G.E., Inc. as an administrative assistant and attended University of Virginia classes until he returned to Kansas City to work for One-Stop record distributors housed in the former site of Columbia Records. The music industry had begun to change dramatically, so he began to work as a Copywriter / Administrative Assistant for Arlcee Advertising Agency, editing and writing real estate copy for newspaper, brochure and catalogue publications. He attended evening class at the University of Missouri, Kansas City.

Eventually, Ron returned to college full time at Emporia State University. He also worked part time as a newspaper reporter for The Emporia Gazette and gained an assistantship teaching Freshman English composition and literature. After graduating, he remained and earned a Master's degree. During this special time, Claudia Anne Johnson became the lady of his life and together they started a journey which became an endearing and lasting relationship. They were married August 3, 1974.

Claudia, also an English major, taught in Brookville while Ron taught English, Journalism and French in St. John's Military School, Salina. Seeing the need for reading development, Ron had resumed study at ESU and eventually became a reading specialist. Within 5 years and seeing the need to go “home”, Claudia and Ron returned to Eastern Kansas to be nearer their families. Claudia had graduated from Lansing High School, and they were married in the First Presbyterian Church in Leavenworth.

Back “home”, Ron became a Title 1 Reading Specialist and English/French instructor at Central Heights near Richmond, KS (1978-1987). (Ron's Mother Bernice passed in 1981 with a sudden heart attack. Hank left in 1983 but not until he got to hold his grandson Alex.) Claudia taught in Ottawa Middle School and eventually became interested in Gifted education, earning Master's certification in that field. Ron also taught a reading class at Johnson County CC (l987) and an English class for MANC (Olathe) (1983) evenings.

A “heaven's gate” opened in l983 when Alexander Norman Bartlett was born on October 25. What a joy was this boy after wondering IF such bliss would be missed. Claudia continued teaching but later opted to do child care at home.

In 1987, Ron transferred a little closer to home, teaching English at Wellsville (1987-1989). And behold! Another gate of splendor brought Alex a sister. Elizabeth Laura Bartlett was born February 11, 1988. She was a beauty from Day 1 with a sparkling smile.

In 1989, Ron began his tenure in the Kansas City Missouri School District as a Certified Reading Specialist (K-12) at Pitcher Academy (elementary); then Westport Communication Arts managing a computer network system (middle school); McCoy Demonstration School (elementary with 18 classrooms on alternate schedules). During this time, he also did evening and summer classes as an adjunct instructor alternating with Penn Valley Community College, Rockhurst College, and DeVry University.
He commented that it seemed like he spent more time with kids other than his and with teachers other than “wife”.

In 2014, “heaven's gate” opened again with the birth of Braden Henry Covell, son of Elizabeth and Halen Covell, on the 17th of April. Halen brought Lyla, a pretty step grand daughter, born September 9th, 2008, when Elizabeth and he were married.

In 2015, that “heaven's gate” opened once more with the birth of Kaedyn Sawyer Covell on August 11th. All bring such delight.

In 2007, Ron retired from the Kansas City Missouri Public School District but continued working as an Adjunct instructor for Penn Valley CC; Longview CC; Kansas City KS CC until 2017. Through it all, Ron knew he was working for only ONE real boss with ONE human race with ONE mission: to LOVE and CARE. Life is infinite.
Those are the guidelines from Christ Jesus, the “Way Shower”. Ever grateful for friends and blessings, including pets and birds singing in trees or scrambling into the bird feeders, the back yard with the beauty of several kinds of tall trees and many shorter ones for trimming was his sanctuary. Joyce Kilmer's poem and song, “Trees” was one of his all-time favorites. He loved sitting in Walter's (Claudia's stepfather) chair under the patio canopy, working/ writing/ reading and making messes on the end of the big picnic table that Claudia's grandfather had made for her family back in the '50s when she lived in Lansing. C/est la vie!! Love and Prayers!”

Memorial graveside services will be held on Friday, December 18, 2020, at 1:00 p.m., at the Garnett Cemetery. Garnett, Kansas.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Salvation Army.

You may send your condolences to the family at www.feuerbornfuneral.com .