Jack B. - age 82 - Española Tucker

Jack B. Tucker, 82, longtime resident of Los Alamos & Espanola passed away at home on Thursday, August 21, 2014. He was preceded in death by his parents Hugh & Emma Sue Tucker. He is survived by Gwen, his loving wife of 55 years; his children Tad Tucker, Tim & Audra Tucker, Tammy Tucker & Lisa Woodrow, & Tracy & Rick Conner. He is also survived by his grandchildren Chloe, Tristan, Milo, Josh, Justin, Jayde, and Jorda. He is also survived by sister & brothers’ in-law, nieces & nephews & extended family members.\r\nJack’s early years were spent in Kentucky. Toward the end of WWII Jack & 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 & exploring the great outdoors of Northern New Mexico. He had great love and respect for people, animals & nature throughout his life. He was active in high school athletics & graduated from Los Alamos High School & joined the United States Air Force.\r\nDuring his college years he was a swimming instructor in Los Alamos when not in school. He graduated from Highlands University in Las Vegas, NM i where he met and married his wife, Gwen. Following graduation they moved to Los Alamos & 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 & lifetime recreational activities. He also enjoyed hunting, fishing, camping, boating & water skiing with his family & friends.\r\n 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 &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 & 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 & learning from others throughout his life.\r\nJack 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 & outdoor recreation prior to his illness. Good times spent RVing with his wife; children & grandchildren were extra special memories to him. With great determination & grit he fought his ever increasing & disabling illness, Wegener’s granulomatosis, with great courage. He was a remarkable, kind person who loved & worked hard to provide for his wife, children, & 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 & strangers became friends quickly. He had a funky sense of humor, & a big heart. He leaves the world a better place for having been here & he will always be in his family’s heart. Open the gates to Heaven here comes Jack driving his bright yellow backhoe.\r\n In lieu of flowers donations may be made to your favorite charity that helps animals or wildlife.\r\nJack 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.devargasfunerals.com or http://memorialwebsites.legacy.com/jacktucker/homepage.aspx.\r\nThe family of Jack Tucker has entrusted the care of loved one to the Devargas Funeral Home & Crematory of the Espanola Valley. 505-747-7477 – www.devargasfuneral.com \r\n \r\n

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