Betty Wynell Sanders

Betty Wynell Sanders, 97, of Tulsa, Oklahoma, passed away peacefully at her home on April 19, 2026, after a remarkable life well lived.

Known lovingly as Mom, Nanny, Grandma, and Aunt Winnie, Betty was born April 2, 1929, in Bronte, Texas, to Blaine Ott and Nina Adele Brown Ott. She was raised in San Angelo and Robert Lee, Texas, and attended Robert Lee High School.

Betty was a trailblazer. At a time when most women were expected to stay at home, she built a career and a legacy that few of her era dared to imagine. She served as Credit Manager at Montgomery Ward Department Store, worked as an accountant for a large company doing international billing in the 1970s, ran a successful property flipping business decades before it became popular, operated a mobile home transport service, owned an answering service for busy professionals, and built a tax service that she ran for decades — continuing to prepare taxes until 2019, at the age of 90. A savvy investor, she acquired real estate throughout her life — investments that supported her all the way to the end. She was fiercely independent, sharp as a tack, and ahead of her time in every way.

She was first married to Albert G. Gerhart for 22 years, and together they had five children. In 1967, she married John Franklin Sanders, the love of her life, and they remained devoted to one another until his passing in 2016. Anyone who saw them together knew what real love looked like.

Betty spent most of her adult life in Fort Smith, Arkansas, and Claremore, Oklahoma. She had a deep love for her land and took tremendous pride in mowing her five-acre yard herself — a task she continued until 2024, at the age of 95. She had a wonderful sense of humor and could find something to laugh about in almost any situation, cracking jokes and teasing her loved ones right up until the end.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Blaine Ott and Nina Adele Brown Ott; her husbands, Albert G. Gerhart and John Franklin Sanders; her daughter, Barbara Nell; her sister, Ila Jean Ott; her brother, Louis Ott; her daughters-in-law, Jana Gerhart and Susan Baker; her niece, Wendy Moody; her grandson, Cody Gerhart; and her great-granddaughter, Zoe Fugate.

Betty is survived by her children, Ronnie Gerhart of Madill, Sandy Morgan of Tulsa, Patti Yohe and husband Joey of Canadian, and Al Gerhart and wife Flordeliza of Oklahoma City; her step-children, Dwayne Sanders of Roland and Cathy Chabot of Roland; her daughter-in-law, Lisa Bailey of Fort Smith; and seven grandchildren: Amber Morgan of Fort Smith, Christie Cumpton and husband Mike of Madill, Brandi Fugate of Tulsa, James Gerhart of Fort Smith, Nick Gerhart of Fort Smith, Mauriah Mitchell and husband Daniel of Jenks, and Megan Harmon and husband Gilbert of Fort Smith.

She is also survived by 15 great-grandchildren: Hailey Faulkner of Muldrow, Jon Faulkner and wife Cassady of Roland, Tyler Cumpton and wife Kelly of Kingston, Danny “DJ” Cumpton and wife Megan of Madill, Ashley Cumpton of Madill, Dylan Gerhart and wife Brooklyn of Duncan, Holden Gerhart of Duncan, Kaed Fugate of Tulsa, Mia Fugate of Oklahoma City, Marilyn Mitchell of Jenks, Joseph Mitchell of Jenks, Meredith Harmon of Fort Smith, Paxton Harmon of Fort Smith, Marlee Harmon of Fort Smith, and Ellie Harmon of Fort Smith.

She is further survived by six great-great-grandchildren: Trinity Golden and husband Jakub of Roland, Violet Whisenant of Muldrow, Wendy Whisenant of Muldrow, Liam Cumpton of Kingston, Teagan Cumpton of Madill, and Ryker Gerhart of Duncan.

She is also survived by her nephew Ralph Medart; nieces Gloria Patrick, Polly Johnson and husband Jerry, Judy Cunningham and husband Bill, Janelle Massey, and Joyce Hennig and husband Jack; great-nieces Sonya Hennig, Kim Jackson, and Shelly Wyatt; along with many other beloved extended family members and friends.

Viewing will be held Friday, April 24, 2026, from 12:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Agent Mallory Martin Funeral Home in Sallisaw, Oklahoma, with the family receiving visitors from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. A funeral service celebrating Betty’s life will be held Saturday, April 25, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. at the funeral home, followed by a graveside service at Buffington Cemetery in Sallisaw, Oklahoma.

The family wishes to extend their heartfelt gratitude to Luminos Hospice, whose compassionate care made it possible for Betty’s loved ones to keep her home, surrounded by family, all the way through the end — exactly as she would have wanted.

Betty lived 97 full years — years marked by hard work, laughter, deep love, and a spirit that refused to be boxed in by the expectations of her time. She will be deeply missed and forever remembered by the family she built and the lives she touched.