December 4, 1932 – January 4, 2026
Bertha Tucker Crowley, age 93, passed away on January 4, 2026, after a sudden illness. She was born in Wardell, Mo. to R.C. and Pearl (Arnold) Tucker on December 4, 1932.
Bertha attended Wardell High School. She played the bass drum, played softball, played basketball and was a cheerleader. After graduation, she attended secretarial school. She moved to Tulsa in 1952 and lived with her sister Mildred and family. She was later joined in Tulsa by a younger sister and brother.
In 1955, her brother Jerry introduced her to his coworker, who had come to take out her sister, Joyce. Another time, the coworker asked her out and they dated for the next year. In 1956, she married Joe Nolan Crowley of Tulsa. They were so much in love that they married three times. The first time they got married in the wrong county, the second time at the home of her sister (to correct the first mistake) and the third time they won a complete wedding, houseful of furniture and honeymoon in Mexico from a Tulsa furniture store. The couple were featured in the advertising of the store for the remainder of the year.
Bertha went to work for Remington Rand in 1956. She worked for various versions of that company, including Sperry Rand, Sperry Corporation, Sperry- Univac, Univac and then Unisys. She retired in 1986.
The couple moved to Okmulgee in 1960. She continued to work in Tulsa and commuted for many years.
They welcomed their only child, son Nolan Taft Crowley in 1961.
Mrs. Crowley was an active parent, involved in the Horace Mann PTA, the Attucks 6th Grade PTA, and Okmulgee High School Band Parents.
Bertha was a very active and involved member of the Republican Party, both locally, statewide and nationally. She was an original member of the “Bellmon Belles,” a ladies’ group founded to travel the state and help elect Henry Bellmon as the state’s first Republican Governor. She reprised that role again when she went back to the Belles when Bellmon ran for Senator. She attended four Republican National Conventions during her life.
Mrs. Crowley may also be known for her work with her husband running the American Legion Post 103 Bingo games for many years in the 1970’s and 1980’s. They later ran a second hand store in the Ansiel furniture building on the corner of 7th and Central in Okmulgee.
The highlight of her life was the time spent with her grandchildren. She volunteered for many years for Marian Academy Catholic Schoolserving lunches, volunteering selling tickets at events, working at book fairs and chaperoning trips.
Bertha loved fishing in Lake Eufaula, and loved the time the family spent together in their cottage on the lake. She loved traveling with her husband, enjoying several European excursions before illness took its toll. She loved going to University of Oklahoma football games with her family, especially going to Dallas to the Texas games.
After her husband’s death, she moved next door to her son’s family. This allowed her to spend many hours of dolls, bikes and pool time with her grand-daughters, who were her world. She resided there until her passing.
She was preceded in death by many brothers and sisters. Brothers L.G., Woodrow, Jeff and Robert of Wardell and brother Jerry Tucker of Schulter. She was also preceded by sisters Septi and Ruth of Wardell, Mildred Camp (James) and Joyce Bruner (Robert) of Tulsa.
She is survived by sister- in-law Ann Tucker (Jerry) of Tulsa, one brother Hershel Tucker (Jeanette) of Kennet Mo. and sister Faye Graham (Tom) of Poplar Bluff, Mo.
She was preceded by her husband, Joe Nolan Crowley of the home in 2001 after 45 years of marriage.
Surviving Mrs. Crowley is her son, Nolan Crowley and wife Mary (Moore) Crowley of Okmulgee. She is survived by two granddaughters, Isabella Crowley of Norman and Anna Zerbe and husband Riley of Tulsa and one great grandson of Tulsa, Max Zerbe. She also doted on Murphy Crowley, Isabella’s pet terrier, who gave her much comfort during his visits.
Mrs. Crowley loved her family as well as her husband’s brothers and sisters- in-law. Many games of Scrabble and Pitch were played around the table at the home on E. 8th Street.
A private burial has been scheduled at Westlawn Cemetery in Henryetta.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Mc-Clendon-Winters Funeral Home of Okmulgee. Memories, condolences, photos and videos may be shared with the family on Bertha’s Tribute Page at www.mcclendon-winters. com.
