JACK B. TUCKER Aug. 21, 2014
Jack B. Tucker, 82, longtime resident of Los Alamos and Espanola passed away at home on August 21, 2014.
He was preceded in death by his parents Hugh and Emma Sue Tucker. He is survived by Gwen, his loving wife of 55 years; his children Tad Tucker, Tim and Audra Tucker, Tammy Tucker and Lisa Woodrow, and Tracy and Rick Conner. He is also survived by his grandchildren Chloe, Tristan, Milo, Josh, Justin, Jayde, and Jorda. He is also survived by sister and brothers’ in-law, nieces and nephews and extended family members.
Jack’s early years were spent in Kentucky. Toward the end of WWII Jack and his Mom moved to New Mexico to join his Dad who was working on the Manhattan Project in Los Alamos, NM. Being a part of the early history of Los Alamos was a great adventure. He enjoyed sports, fishing, hunting, hiking, skiing and exploring the great outdoors of Northern New Mexico.
He had great love and respect for people, animals and nature throughout his life. He was active in high school athletics and graduated from Los Alamos High School and joined the United States Air Force.
During his college years, he was a swimming instructor in Los Alamos when not in school. He graduated from Highlands University in Las Vegas, NM where he met and married his wife, Gwen. Following graduation they moved to Los Alamos and he worked for Los Alamos Public Schools as an elementary physical education teacher for many years. He truly enjoyed teaching children to really have fun while learning.
His children were fortunate to have their Dad as their Physical Education teacher. During his teaching years in the summer he managed many Los Alamos outdoor swimming pools. He participated in several national programs that helped disabled children learn to swim and participate in physical education and lifetime recreational activities. He also enjoyed hunting, fishing, camping, boating and water skiing with his family and friends.
Jack started his firewood business, which expanded into his construction business, Tucker Enterprises. He left teaching as his business had grown into a full time job. Everyone in his family had a part in building the family home and working in the family business. He taught his children that being enterprising was a way of life that was energizing and empowering. Far more than a supervising owner, he worked alongside his men until he retired.
Jack Tucker loved physical labor, working with and meeting people. He was a man of his word and he took special pride in all he did. He was a “hands on” guy who never stopped teaching and learning from others throughout his life.
Jack loved any kind of fishing, but truly enjoyed the challenge of fly fishing and tactics to lure fish to his hand-tied flies. He did manage to squeak in a few years of family travel and outdoor recreation prior to his illness. Good times spent RVing with his wife; children and grandchildren were extra special memories to him. With great determination and grit he fought his ever increasing and disabling illness, Wegener’s granulomatosis, with great courage.
He was a remarkable, kind person who loved and worked hard to provide for his wife, children, and grandchildren. Jack rarely met a person or dog who didn’t smile back at him—good aura. Jack listened more than he spoke so he learned much in his lifetime and strangers became friends quickly. He had a funky sense of humor, and a big heart. He leaves the world a better place for having been here and he will always be in his family’s heart. Open the gates to Heaven here comes Jack driving his bright yellow backhoe.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to your favorite charity that helps animals or wildlife.
Jack requested no services be held. The family may be reached in care of Gwen Tucker, P. O. Box 4926, Fairview, NM 87533 or jktuck14@outlook.com A tribute to Jack’s life may be viewed at: www.devargasfuneral.com or https:////memorialwebsites.legacy.com/jacktucker/homepage.aspx