|
| |
|
|
Nov 18, 1931 - Dec 13, 2016
The Funeral Service for Bertie Mae Wanker, 85, Fairview is 10:30 a.m. Monday, Dec. 19, 2016, at the First Assembly of God Church, Fairview. The Rev. Jim Veal will officiate. Burial follows in the Fairview Cemetery. Arrangements are by Fairview Funeral Home, Inc.
Bertie was born and raised in West Texas. She grew up picking cotton to help support her family, scurrying to the cellar before a tornado blew her house away, and learning how far a hungry family could stretch a penny. Bertie was working as a waitress at Froggy's Cafe where she became acquainted with a broad-shouldered young roughneck from Hill City, Kan., named Forrest Leroy Wanker. She knew almost immediately that she had met the love of her life, and though they had known each other less than 6 weeks, she eloped with him to Carlsbad, N.M. and were married on March 4, 1953. They moved around Texas for a few years, with Forrest working in the oilfield and then moved to Hill City, Kan., where they opened the Dew Drop Inn Cafe. These lovebirds treasured working side by side running this cozy little café, living in an apartment above the restaurant. They were blessed with two boys, FL and Fred, during their six year stint in Kansas, though ultimately the restaurant business would not last, as a huge highway projected siphoned off their business, so they returned to Texas. Back in Robert Lee, Bertie cherished her time with her mom Lillie Gaines and her sister Willie Eads, and Willie's family, husband big Jesse and son little Jesse. FL, Fred and little Jesse were inseparable, and hard to locate unless you were trailblazing along the densely overgrown bosque of the Colorado River, near Willie and Jesse's house.
In 1965, Forrest's job transfer caused the family to relocate to Fairview, where their third son, Frank was born in 1968. Bertie had many roles in the home, but also took on the important role of den mother with local cub scouts. She and her husband Forrest created a huge garden, which included some of the best tomatoes, watermelons, and okra around. Bertie even had a special routine, only known by her close family, for planting the delicious melons they shared with friends and family.
About 1980, Bertie decided it was time to seek employment outside the home and she took a series of jobs in Fairview Hospital, working first in housekeeping, then later in central supply. Bertie took great pride in contributing to the hospital mission. Bertie was always an avid fan for any school activity, in which any of her boys were participating. Even when there was a mere handful of parents, Bertie would almost certainly be there.
Bertie was active in Eastern Star for many years, primarily in Cleo Springs chapter. She was a long-term, active member of the First Assembly of God Church and loved participating in the local AMBUCS.
She and Forrest proudly celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in 2003. Sadly, FL had died back in 1994 and Forrest died in 2006.
With the love and support from her family and many close friends, she found a way to persevere and share her spark and sharp wit with those fortunate enough to be a part of her life. She loved to laugh and make others laugh. She will be deeply missed by so many.
She is survived by her son Fred; his wife, Debbie; son, Frank and his wife, Jessie; and nine grandchildren, Heather, Wayne, Jarred, Levi, McKenna, McLarin, Windston and Huxley.
|W Surnames - Fairview Cemetery|Major County Page| |Home|
This site may be freely linked, but not duplicated in any way without consent.
All rights reserved! Commercial use of material within this site is prohibited!
© 2000-2024 Oklahoma CemeteriesThe information on this site is provided free for the purpose of researching your genealogy. This material may be freely used by non-commercial entities, for your own research, as long as this message remains on all copied material. The information contained in this site may not be copied to any other site without written "snail-mail" permission. If you wish to have a copy of a donor's material, you must have their permission. All information found on these pages is under copyright of Oklahoma Cemeteries. This is to protect any and all information donated. The original submitter or source of the information will retain their copyright. Unless otherwise stated, any donated material is given to Oklahoma Cemeteries to make it available online. This material will always be available at no cost, it will always remain free to the researcher.