Bertha was born July 9, 1939 in Pocasset, Oklahoma. She was the first born of two daughters to Mable (Eakins) Craddock and David Levi Craddock. She grew to have a special bond with her father and helped him daily with the chores on their farm. At a young age she could operate the tractor and guide it down the long straight rows of a field.
Bertha graduated from Verden High School down the road from Pocasset and later completed a two year course of training in clerical skills and office management from a nearby business school. It was during this time that Bertha’s cousin wanted her to meet a guy that she had met at the local drive-in, where all the kids went. The story was that he had settled the score with a bully that was harassing the carhops. His name was Wayne Stover and he drove a really cool car. Bertha and Wayne married April 17,1960 and had many years of happy days.
The love of God, family and friends is central to Bertha’s legacy. Her clerical and organizational skills not only served her well in her career field, but also at home as she drew her family and friends together regularly planning and organizing get-togethers and reunions. She retired from Wal-Mart as a customer service representative but even more, she served her family lovingly for she loved the Lord. The Bible was never far from her chair.
Bertha loved to plant a garden in the Spring, but it never seemed to yield much because she loved to take trips with Wayne and the boys, every weekend, if possible, to the family gathering place in Guthrie, Oklahoma. She loved it when the last day of school arrived so the boys could go for longer trips to visit family that couldn’t get-together at Guthrie. Her gardens didn’t yield much even though she knew how to grow one, her father had taught her, but family and friends occupied a bigger place in her heart than an earthly garden. She preferred to grow the fruit of the Spirit that, by her account, would bring a greater yield.
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.” Galatians 5:22
She is survived by her husband, Wayne Stover; her sons, David Wayne Stover and Gerald Eugene Stover (Reva); grandchildren, Tiffany Hachmeister (Bill), Bryton Wellnitz (Aaron), Randi Childress (Caleb) and Levi; great- grandchildren, Garrett, Cantor and Damascus and her sister, Carolyn Climer. She was preceded in death by her parents and a son, Jimmy Dean Stover. Bertha was greatly loved by all her children, family and friends.
Funeral service will be 10 a.m., Saturday, September 3 at McConnell Funeral Home Chapel in Greenwood with burial at Mountain View Cemetery in Hackett. Viewing will be Friday from 1-7 p.m. at the funeral home, where the family will visit with friends from 5-7 p.m.
“Finally, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” Philippians 4:8
