Bertha Mae Sears

Bertha Mae Sears (Whitaker), age 91, of Somerset, Kentucky, passed away on Thursday, June 13, 2019, in Greenfield, Indiana, at Springhurst Senior Living Community, where she had been living for almost two years, close to many adoring nieces and nephews from three generations of her family.

Born March 12, 1928, in Short Creek, Kentucky, to Louis and Effie Mae Whitson Whitaker, Bertha was the fifth of eight siblings and the only remaining sibling of her family. Bertha married the love of her life, Howard Sears, on September 7, 1946, in Somerset and they were blessed with 50 years of marriage until his passing in 1997. Bertha and Howard lived in many different places during their marriage, but spent the majority of their married years in Knoxville, Tennessee, while also enjoying a Summer home on Douglas Lake in Dandridge, Tennessee. She worked for Palm Beach Clothing Company in Knoxville as a seamstress and supervisor until her retirement. Bertha returned home to Somerset after Howard’s passing and was a long time member of Short Creek Baptist Church where she enjoyed singing in the choir, as well as serving as a volunteer at Lake Cumberland Regional Hospital. Bertha was an expert fisherman and loved to travel and many wonderful memories were made with family and friends doing these very things.

While Bertha had no biological children of her own, she is survived by dozens of loving nieces and nephews, great-nieces and nephews, great-great nieces and nephews, and cousins, as well as countless friends who over the years considered her to be a mother or grandmother figure in their lives. To know Bertha, was to love Bertha, and in turn her love for her family and friends was limitless. Only her love for her Savior, Jesus Christ, surpassed her love for her family, and through her faithfulness to her Lord and living her life by this example, she inspired generations to do the same.  When recently asked for her favorite words of advice for others, she responded, “To live a good clean life and to do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”  We can only imagine the joy she experienced with the celebration in Heaven that welcomed her arrival.

Bertha was preceded in death by her parents and husband, as well as her siblings, Glen Whitaker, Londis (Pete) Whitaker, Carley Eyster, James (J.L.) Whitaker, Herman Whitaker, Betty Freeland, and Violet Randolph.

The family of Bertha Mae Sears will receive friends on Saturday, June 22, starting at 11am at the Pulaski Funeral Home, 165 Hwy 2227, in Somerset, Kentucky.

The funeral service will begin at Noon (12 PM), with Brother Ron Barnett officiating.

A graveside committal service will be immediately following at Lakeside Memorial Gardens, 4790 W. Hwy 80, in Somerset.

Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association 7272 Greenville Avenue, Dallas, TX 75231

Pulaski Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.