Elaine Alice Tucker passed away at home on Monday, June 1, 2015. She was born to Chester and Antonia Vert in Rosburg, Washington, on Feb. 24, 1924. A lifelong resident of Washington, Mrs. Tucker lived in the Ferndale-Bellingham area for 66 years.
Mrs. Tucker’s early years were spent in Skamokawa where her father was a teacher and principal. The family later moved to Seattle where she attended the new Roosevelt High School. After graduation, she attended nearby University of Washington where she was a member of the Alpha Gamma Delta sorority. During her junior year she became engaged to a fellow student in her psychology class, Richard Tucker. They were married on June 24, 1944, and she relinquished her college career to follow her husband to St. Louis, where he was enrolled in dental school.
After her husband’s graduation and a naval tour, they settled in Ferndale. There Mrs. Tucker devoted her life and energy to her growing family of four children. She was the mom who spent every August putting up her delicious dill pickles, canning 40 quarts of string beans for winter, sewing new school dresses for her girls and dispensing valuable parental guidance along the way.
Mrs. Tucker valued education. She enjoyed reading and was always challenging herself to learn new things. She taught herself how to operate one of the first word processors, she took her gardening knowledge to a new level when she learned how to grow orchids and, as an adult, she learned how to ski and sail. She was an accomplished bridge player and for many years she was an active member of PEO, Tillicum Club and the United Church of Ferndale.
She was preceded in death by her brother, Bill Vert.
Survivors include her husband, Richard Tucker; her four children: Ann Marie Ratliff, Richard D. Tucker, Victoria Otterholt and Martha Hoss; 10 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
Services will be held at noon on Thursday, June 11, 2015, in the United Church of Ferndale with Rev. Bobbi Virta officiating.
Please share your memories of Mrs. Tucker at www.molesfarewelltribues.com.
