Bertha T. Sells, age 92, of Joplin, passed away on Sunday February 17, 2013 at National Healthcare following an illness.

Bertha was born on September 10, 1920 in Roosevelt, Okla., the daughter of the late Samuel and Goldie (Bozman) Cooper. She married Baston Sells on August 31, 1940 in Vancouver, Washington. She graduated from Oklahoma State University with a degree in education. She taught school in Oklahoma, and after moving to Joplin she taught several years at Emerson Elementary. She loved gardening, both flowers and vegetables. She enjoyed traveling, cooking, sewing, and studying genealogy.

She is survived by two sons, Pat Sells and wife Pam, Joplin, and Phil Sells and wife Janet, Tulsa, Okla.; one brother, Harvey Cooper, Oklahoma City, Okla.; two sisters, Alice Ferdinand, Peoria, Il., and Midget Stillson, Hobert, Okla.; four grandchildren, Mark Sells, Kristi Winkelmann, Lisa Sells, and Jason Sells; and two great-grandchildren, Morgan and Ethan Winkelmann.

She was preceded in death by four brothers, Toby Cooper, Pete Cooper, Jerry Cooper, Sam Cooper; and one sister, Mary Desper.

Funeral services will be 10:00 a.m. Saturday at Mason-Woodard Chapel with Jamie Lankford minister officiating. Burial will be in Diamond Cemetery. The pallbearers will be Mark Sells, Mark Winkelmann, Jason Sells, Lisa Sells, Larry Teel, Kevin Teel, Bill McKinney, and Stewart Sells.

The family will receive friends 7-8 p.m. Friday at the mortuary.