Thomas "Tommy" Tucker

Thomas Harley “Tommy” Tucker

Thomas Harley “Tommy” Tucker died on July 20, 2014 at the age of 92 years. Tommy was born July 23, 1921, the third of three children, to Harley E. Tucker and Fannie (Maxwell) Tucker in Kirksville, Missouri. Tommy’s family persevered through the Great Depression. When Harley died, Tommy was 16 and he worked to support his family. Fannie was a seamstress and between her piece work and the children’s income, her family succeeded. These hard lessons shaped Tommy and his siblings as honest, frugal, practical, spiritual, hard-working people. They paid all their bills and never expected additional help.

Tommy graduated from Kirksville High School with the Class of 1937 and served in World War II with the Air Force, South Pacific, as a flight engineer. Tommy was busted from Lieutenant to Private when he refused to certify a bomber he had not been trained to inspect, just before a run. He mustered out with an honorable discharge and the integrity that would always characterize his fierce sense of independence, a clear-eyed view of right and wrong.

Tommy studied watch, clock, and jewelry-making, and engraving after the war. Tommy met Trevia Reese while working at Gardner-Collier Jewelry store. Trevia had just started with Bell Telephone only two blocks away as an operator and stopped at the store to look at ankle bracelets, a fashion not wholly appreciated by her father, Archie. Tommy sold Trevia the bracelet and met the love of his life. Tommy persuaded Trevia’s father that the bracelet represented nothing scandalous. Tommy was honest and sincere in all his dealings and had tremendous respect for Archie and his wife, Catherine. Tommy and Trevia were married May 23, 1949.

Tommy and Trevia had two children, Thomas Harley “Tim” Tucker, II and Toni Louise Tucker. Tommy is survived by Tim, his daughter-in-law, Stephanie Powelson, both of Kirksville and two grandchildren, Lucas Powelson Tucker (wife, Erica) of Rolla, Missouri and Jacob Powelson Tucker (wife, Casey) of East Peoria, Illinois, and several nieces and nephews. Tommy was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Trevia, his daughter, Toni, his brother, Jerry, and his sister, Mildred Bohon.

Tommy’s hands were his gift and he could make practically anything with them. Tommy could repair any clock or watch and make jewelry. He once engraved The Lord’s Supper on a copper plate and he engraved his last name on his everyday tableware for practice. Tommy rebuilt engines, restored automobiles, once won the Mechanic’s Race at the Northeast Missouri Fair Grounds Stock Car Track, earned three Chrysler Corporation Master Mechanic awards, poured foundations, re-sided and re-roofed his home, rewired his shop, built furniture, repaired and traded antiques, and especially enjoyed cast iron toys.

Tommy and Trevia belonged to the First Baptist Church and were married there by Reverend Ralph M. G. Smith, Tommy’s good friend. Tommy was a Mason, earning 50-year membership status, when he no longer was required to pay dues. He was proud to achieve this savings. The names of all Tommy’s immediate family members started with the letter “T” and his favorite pet was a mutt named “Tag.” Tommy read Sunday comics to his young children, owned a go-kart track, watched the Ed Sullivan show, followed Joe DiMaggio, ate lemon meringue pie for his birthday, watched Dick Clark until 10 PM on most New Year’s Eves, hunted deer, thought Doris Day had a great voice and admired Cary Grant but knew John Wayne was the best.

Tommy Tucker lived a full and happy life on his own terms. He loved God, stood up for America and adored his family. We will miss him but believe he will be waiting for us on the other side with a smile.

Visitation with the family will be held from 5:00 to 6:30 PM, followed by a prayer service from 6:30 to 7:00 PM, Thursday, July 24, 2014, at Davis-Playle-Hudson-Rimer Funeral Home.

Funeral service will be held on Friday, July 25, 10:00 AM, Mary Immaculate Catholic Church with Deacon Dave Ream, OFS, officiating. Burial will follow at Maple Hills Cemetery. It was Tommy's wishes to be cremated.

Davis-Playle-Hudson-Rimer Funeral Home
2100 East Shepherd Ave.
Kirksville, Missouri 63501 660-665-2233
www.davisplaylehudsonrimer.com

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Hospice of Northeast Missouri, 201 S. Baltimore, Suite C, Kirksville, Missouri, 63501.