Bernard Morris Roberts, a true gentleman, age 91, passed away March 5, 2023, at St. Francis Hospital in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Bernard was born on Aug. 26, 1931, in Tulsa, to Myer L. and Lillian Wolf Roberts. He grew up and attended public schools in Nowata, OK, served as captain of both his high school football and basketball teams, and was a member of Nowata High School's 1949 graduating class. He continued
his education at the University of Oklahoma, where he was a member and President of the Sigma Alpha Mu fraternity. Upon graduating with a B.A. in Business, Bernard married the love of his life, Lillian Cohen, on June 7, 1953, in Pine Bluff, AR. They moved together to Moriarty Air Force Station
near Albuquerque, NM, where Bernard completed his service.

Bernard and Lillian returned to Nowata, where Bernard would take over the family business, Keystone Pipe & Supply Co., following his father's death in a 1954 plane crash. Bernard's grandfather, Mike Roberts, started Keystone in 1914. Bernard represented the third and final generation of the family business when he reluctantly retired in 2016, two years after the company proudly celebrated 100 years in business. Bernard was happiest when his wife Lillian joined him to run the business. They were an amazing team. Bernard retired reluctantly and had his health allowed it, you can bet you'd find him still sitting in Keystone's front office, reading his newspaper, his pristine "Keystone" hat on his head. Bernard and Lillian were lucky to have had some of the best and most caring employees over the years.

Bernard was committed to running Keystone, but he was equally committed to the community and most committed to family. With four busy children, he somehow managed to be there to watch and cheer them on in all they did-countless activities, performances, and baseball, football, and basketball games. He took great pride in watching his son David (Larry) who, like himself, played Nowata High School football and basketball.

Bernard and Lillian were lifelong members of the B'nai Emunah Synagogue and spent hours on the road driving their children to Sunday School and services in Tulsa on a very rough Highway 169. Often, the station wagon was rocking and rolling from the antics of four very lively kids. During baseball season, the St. Louis Cardinals played on the radio. Bernard loved the Cardinals, but his true love was OU football. Lillian gave up early on trying to eat meals without the Cardinals or OU football on the radio or television.

Bernard was a member of the American Legion, a Mason and member of the Nowata's Sunset #57
Lodge. He served in his late father Myer's place on the Nowata Hospital Board starting at age 26 until his late 80s, and served as Secretary, VicePresident and President. He saw the hospital through many changes in the medical industry and acquisitions over the years. Quality medical care was important to Bernard, and he never stopped thinking forward for the good of the community. Up until his death, Bernard remained proud that despite the challenges, Nowata had succeeded in retaining medical services and that their town had not gone the way of so many other small towns that had lost their facilities.

Bernard also served on the First National Bank of Nowata and the local Regent Bank Boards of Directors. He supported and served the Nowata Chamber of Commerce and on other local boards and committees. Bernard loved the Nowata Schools' sports programs and he made sure to financially provide his support through donations and advertising. He was known to buy a lot of candy, cookies and tickets throughout the years.

The family wishes to thank so many who cared for Bernard and Lillian over the past few years. A special thank you to Janette, Jo and Ashley. A special thanks as well to Dr. Jeff Gibson and his staff, who provided exceptional care both to Bernard and Lillian.

Bernard is survived and will be greatly missed by his children, David L. Roberts of Broken Arrow, OK; Leslie Roberts Miller (Michael) of Mexico, MO; and Jeffrey Roberts of Frederick, MD; grandchildren Lauren Miller Gaynor (Andrew) of Omaha, NE; Katherine Roberts Wood (Marc) of Owasso, OK; Kent Miller (Michelle Abtahi) of Chicago, IL; Kyle Roberts (Tiffany) of Tulsa, OK; Steven Roberts of Frederick, MD; and Kimberly Roberts of Frederick, MD; his precious great-grandchildren, Cohen James Wood and Georgia Quinn Gaynor. Brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Melvyn and Dorothye Cohen Abels of Missouri City, TX, also survive; along with brother-in-law Henry Katz, of Ada, OK; and many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews. Bernard was preceded in death by Lillian, his wife of 69 years and 23 days; his parents; sisters, Ethel Rae Roberts and Helen Sara Katz; his mother and father-in-law, Jay and Ruth Cohen; and his beloved first-born son, Michael Myer Roberts.

Services for Bernard will be graveside at 2:00 p.m. on March 15, 2023, at the Rose Hill Cemetery in Tulsa, OK.

Memorial donations may be made to the Nowata City-County Library (224 S. Pine St, Nowata OK 74048), the Boys & Girls Club of Nowata (139 S. Pine St, Nowata OK 74048) or a charity of the donor's choice.


Fitzgerald Ivy Chapel Funeral Home 918-585-1151