Berta Louise Goodman's Obituary
Berta Louise Copeland Goodman went home to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ and husband Sammie Ray Goodman on Saturday, Dec 17, 2022 at 10:15 pm in her East Tulsa home where she had lived since it was built in 1964.
Berta would be the only child of Harry Weston and Mary O Ketchum Copeland. Harry was an oil field driller and Mary was a seamstress and also worked in a peanut shelling plant in Ada, Oklahoma. Berta, or whom you will hear me and many people here today affectionately say, Nanny, was born on October 5, 1930 and grew up in a dirt floor house on the banks of the Deep Fork River southwest of Beggs, in Okmulgee County, Oklahoma.
She attended school at Beggs and met her future husband and love of her life Sammie Ray Goodman in school and began dating in the Fall of 1947. They had known each other since elementary school, but they didn't begin dating until the homecoming football game, where they were named homecoming king and queen. Sam and Berta Goodman were married on June 16, 1948 at Beggs Methodist Church. Later that evening, they boarded a bus to Tulsa in hope of living the American dream.
Sam and Berta would live the American dream at four addresses in the city, moving each time to the South and East as Tulsa prospered and grew in that direction. Berta went to work for Admiral State bank and also worked at Sooner Federal in Tulsa retiring after 20 years of service. Sam would go to work for American Airlines as an Industrial Engineer in 1950 and worked two to three side jobs in his younger years to help support his family, including at Bill White Chevrolet in Downtown Tulsa. He would retire from American Airlines after 43 years of service. Together, they purchased property in 1977 in Mayes County on Ketchum Cove at Grand Lake. This was the land where they would build a rustic second home where grandchildren, friends, and family would spend weekends swimming in the lake and enjoying the peaceful and spacious cabin.
In their spare time, Sam and Berta enjoyed playing bridge together, hosting friends to play and socialize. They also enjoyed square dancing. Loyalty to Berta was steadfast, unwavering, and constant.
Sam and Berta were blessed with two children Their first daughter, Jayme Sue, was born on February 8, 1954, and their second daughter, Mary Kay, was born June 19, 1958. Together, they created a life of strong family values, faith, security and love. They would go on trips as a family to Grand Lake and Estes Park Colorado, Jackson, Wyoming and Bar Harbor Maine. In later years with grandchildren; many trips to Branson, Missouri, Bentonville, Arkansas and Mystic, Connecticut.
Sam and Berta were a snapshot of America from a different time, a harder time and yet a simpler time. They were living examples of the American Dream and of a time where character and commitment was revered. My grandmother was a selfless example of a loving wife, friend, grandmother and great-grandmother and many other hats she wore over the course of a lifetime.
Berta is preceded in death by her daughter, Mary Kay Goodman Carlson, husband, Sammie Ray Goodman, Father Harry Weston Copeland and Mother Mary Susan Ketchum Copeland. She is survived by daughter, Jayme Sue Goodman Pillow, grandchildren: Allan Rayson, Amanda Kallen, Matt Carlson and Drew Carlson and Josh Pillow and Ben Pillow. Nanny and Papa are also survived by 8 great-grandkids. We all love and are going to miss you, Nanny.
I’m going to close with a poem written for the “Pride of The Admiral Award” Berta won while working at Admiral State Bank.
“ In June of 1948 Sam Goodman took a wife,
Of that union came progeny to be the light of his life.
Two young daughters named Jayme Sue and Kay,
A pair to brighten any man’s day.
But so much for Sam and his understandable pride,
Let’s focus our thoughts on his brown-eyed bride.
Ceramics and football keep her life overflowing,
Not to mention camping, church and sewing.
We salute our Loan Secretary who works with such ease,
That personable Goodman gal–Berta Louise!”
A visitation will be held at Floral Haven Funeral Home on Thursday December 22, 2022 at 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM. A celebration of life funeral ceremony will be held on Friday December 23, 2022 at 11:00 AM at Aldersgate United Methodist Church.
What’s your fondest memory of Berta?
What’s a lesson you learned from Berta?
Share a story where Berta's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Berta you’ll never forget.
How did Berta make you smile?
