Bryan Pope Cartall, born October 5, 1949, in Del Rio, Texas, to Dr. Louis M. Cartall and Mary Eleanor Wiseman Cartall died June 8, 2016, with his loving wife and best friend, Rebecca and children by his side.
He is survived by his devoted wife Rebecca P. Cartall & three children, Louis Clay Cartall (San Antonio) and daughters Quinn Cameron Cartall (Atlanta, GA) and Talia Leigh Cartall (Los Angeles, CA); sister Cynthia Cartall Robinson & husband Dr. C.W. Robinson, Jr. (San Antonio); nephew Hunter Cartall Peyton & wife Kari (Dallas); sister-in-law Marsha D .Payne (Hannibal, MO) and brother-in-law Joseph D. Payne and his wife, JoAnn (Waco, TX) and their children Rachel, Rebecca, Susanna Payne and Sarah Payne Loyd and her husband J.T. and daughters Abby, Taylor, Lauren and son Joshua; his cousins Dana Durst Grassi & husband Bobby (NYC), John Durst, esq., and wife Stephanie (NYC) and Peggy Durst Stromenger & husband Philip (West Palm Beach, FL); Linda Gunter Pope & husband Jim (Winter Park, FL) and Robert E. Gunter & wife Gwen (Fort Worth); Tori Banks (Baton Rouge, LA) and Krissy Banks Taylor (Jeff) & daughters Emma and Colette (Houston, TX); Eileen Banks Diepenbrock & husband Dave (Arvada, CO) and Tom Banks & wife Melinda (Laguna Niguel, CA) & sons Will & Jeremy.
Dad left Del Rio to attend San Antonio Academy in 7th and 8th Grades, and met friends there who remained lifelong friends. He returned to Del Rio for high school and graduated from Del Rio High School in 1967. He attended Trinity University, Schreiner College, and Texas A&M. Dad was a remarkable man who started flying airplanes in his early teens, accompanying his father who taught him to fly while attending patients in other rural communities. He received his pilot’s license at age 17 and remained one helluva pilot and flying enthusiast throughout his life. From motocross to flat-tracking on motorcycles, scuba diving, lettering in gymnastics at A&M University and winning the SW Conference Floor Exercises Competition, to being an avid golfer with a 5-handicap until his health failed, Dad was always pushing himself, and us, to excel. Dad enjoyed the outdoors and hunting with his family and friends, instructing us at a young age to respect nature and be proficient marksmen (and to never bring a knife to a gunfight). He taught us to walk with Jesus daily, to live by the Golden Rule, was a man of his word and was always there when we needed him.
He met Mom on a blind date in 1983 and he never tired of telling the world how she was the light and love of his life, through and through.
Dad worked for Southern Pacific Railroad as a locomotive engineer for nineteen years, then decided to go to Law School. He graduated from St. Mary’s School of Law in San Antonio in 1989, and was licensed to practice law, where he ventured from being a prosecutor in the D.A.’s office into private practice where he was able to fulfill his dream of helping the Davids of the world fight the Goliaths. Our Dad was a giver, putting others before himself and doing more pro bono work than many lawyers put together, always reminding us that blessings flow from God, not man. He was a father figure to countless friends who, when the word went out Dad was dying, drove and flew in from everywhere to express their gratitude for all he’d done and taught them. Bryan Pope Cartall was a world-class Renaissance Man and words cannot begin to express how greatly he will be missed.
The family is extremely grateful for the loving care received from all of his wonderful physicians, doc friends and staff at St. Luke’s Baptist Hospital, who worked tirelessly to make both our father’s and our time so meaningful, with special recognition to Erick, Jackie, Robert, Connie and Brenda. We are forever in your debt.
There will be a Memorial Service at 2:00 P.M., 28th of July, 2016 at:
First Presbyterian Church
404 N. Alamo Street
San Antonio, TX 78205