Bertha Lou Raines

Mrs. Bertha Lou (Cooper) Raines, age 75 of Cleveland, TX went to be with the Lord peacefully in her sleep on Sunday, March 18, 2018 around 7:30 AM after a struggle with cancer. She was born in Muskogee, OK on April 12, 1942 to Clifford W. and Sally (Pilkenton) Cooper. Growing up in Aldine, TX, she was active in church, singing and playing piano for many youth rallies and services. Bertha graduated in 1960 from Aldine High School, and worked in the medical center where she watched JFK's procession the day before his assassination.

As an adult student in Bible college, she met fellow student David Raines of Jones, OK and the two quickly fell in love and married in June of 1969. She dedicated herself to the life of a pastor's wife, mother and teacher as her husband David pastored many churches in Wyoming, Oklahoma and Texas for over 47 years. Bertha was quite active in all aspects of ministry - playing piano, teaching Sunday School, raising a family of 3 boys, children's ministry, counselor and the abundant roles that befall a pastor's wife. During their 18 years in Perkins, OK, Bertha established both the local Headstart childcare program and Educare, a faith-based daycare. Bertha also organized the town's distribution of surplus government food commodity items to the needy. Over the years, she mentored many women, children and parents and is greatly loved for her exceptionally kind and gentle spirit.

Bertha is preceded in death by her parents and survived by her husband David; 5 siblings: Sharrel (Rex) Dominy, Royce (Jennifer) Cooper, Linda (Charles) Woodside, David (Vickie) Cooper and Jeannette (Carl) Williams; her 3 sons Jonathan (Kimberly), Stephen (Abby), and Philip (Maria); and 7 grandchildren: Renee, Daniel, Joseph, Micaela, Alexandra, Quincy, and Winston, and 10 nieces and nephews.

The family will greet friends from 6 to 9 PM on Thursday March 22 at Pace-Stancil Funeral Home in Cleveland, TX. Funeral services will be held Friday, March 23 at 2:00 PM at Cross Community Church in Cleveland, TX. Interment will follow at Pace-Stancil Memorial Rest Gardens, Cleveland, TX.