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Broken Arrow-
Betty Ann Sullivan was born June 5, 1939, in Adair,
Oklahoma, to Wayne and Anne Hert. She graduated from Pryor High School in
1957 before enrolling at Northeastern State University in Tahlequah. While
attending NSU, she met her future husband, Monroe, while they both worked at
Western Hills Lodge. After graduating, Betty and Monroe married in 1961 and
began a journey together that lasted 63 years. They were blessed with two
daughters, Cynthia and Melissa Ann.
Betty began her teaching career in Stoutland, Missouri, before moving to Lebanon, Missouri, where she taught Home Economics. Wanting to raise their family in her hometown, Betty and Monroe returned to Pryor, where she continued a lifelong career in education. She taught 5th grade at Roosevelt Elementary, Special Education at Pryor Junior High, served as a Psychometrist and Reading Specialist at Whitaker State Home, and finished her career at Pryor High School as a Reading Specialist and in Special Services.
In 1969, Betty and Monroe embarked on their first travel adventure, taking 16 high school girls on a trip to Europe. Even after retirement, they continued exploring together, traveling in their RV across the United States, and later with their daughters and sons-in-law to Hawaii, Canada, Alaska, the Caribbean, and the Mediterranean.
Betty was an incredible seamstress, making many of her daughters’ clothes and countless Spring Festival costumes. She could sketch a design and create her own sewing patterns, a talent admired by many. She loved watching her daughters play tennis and perform with the Pryor High School Band. One summer, when there weren’t enough coaches for girls’ softball, Betty and Bill Stovall volunteered, ensuring the girls had the opportunity to play—even if it wasn’t a winning season.
A member of First Baptist Church in Pryor and of the Kappa Kappa Iota educational sorority, Betty also enjoyed tending her flowers and bird watching.
Betty passed peacefully on September 1, 2025, in Inola, surrounded by her daughters and son-in-law, after receiving compassionate care in CURA hospice during her final months.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 63 years, Monroe; her parents, Wayne and Anne Hert; one brother, Tony Hert; twin sisters, LouJane and SueWayne Hert; her mother-in-law, Sarah “Kitty” Sullivan; grandson, Mark Swinehart; brothers-in-law, James and Ron Sullivan; and sister-in-law, Louise Gammons.
She is survived by her daughters: Cynthia and husband Tim of Broken Arrow, and Melissa and husband Donnie of Broken Arrow; grandson Sean Wyatt and wife Meghan; and five great-grandchildren, Jack, Carli, Liam, James, and Teddy, all of Broken Arrow. She is also survived by her brother-in-law, Charles Sullivan and wife Gladys of Chandler, OK; sister-in-law, Cindy Sullivan of Claremore, OK; sister-in-law, Jan Richards of Pryor; and many nieces and nephews who lovingly knew her as “Aunt Betty.”
A memorial visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m., Friday, September 5, 2025, at Shipman's Funeral Home. To leave a personal message, please visit her guestbook at www.shipmansfuneralhome.com. Arrangements are under the direction of Shipman's Funeral & Cremation Service of Pryor.
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