Mary E. Tucker
June 7, 1943 - November 18, 2019

Stephenson-Dearman Funeral Home 943 Highway 425 North Monticello, AR 71655 Map & Directions Stephenson-Dearman Funeral Home 943 Highway 425 North Monticello ,  AR 71657 11/23/2019 from 1:00-2:00 P.M. Map & Directions Funeral Service Stephenson-Dearman Chapel 943 Hwy 425 N. Monticello ,  AR 71655 11/23/2019 2:00 PM Map & Directions   Oakland Cemetery 800 North Hyatt St. Monticello, AR 71655 Map & Directions ALS Foundation for Life P O Box 40244 Nashville, TN 37204

Mary Parish Tucker, age 76, of Monticello, Arkansas, went to be with the Lord on November 18th, 2019 from complications surrounding ALS (Lou Gherig’s disease) at Drew Memorial Hospital in Monticello, Arkansas.

Mary was born in Ingalls, Bradley County, AR. Mary is survived by her husband of 57 years, Richard Tucker; her daughter and son-in-law, Cindy and Robert Akin of Monticello; her daughter and son-in-law, Lori and Kevin White of Eads, TN; and her son and daughter-in-law, Chris and Carrie Tucker of Springdale, AR; five granddaughters, Britni Akin of Fort Collins, CO, Kinsley Akin Vickers (Hunter) of Monticello, AR, Haylee Burton of Fayetteville, AR; Jane, Mae, and Ruby Tucker of Springdale, AR; two step-grandsons, Chase and Carter White of Eads, TN; and one great-grandson, Boston Akin of Fort Collins, CO. She is also survived by her brother, Gene Parish of Hartsville, Ohio and by her foster siblings Marnell Johnson Smith of Camden, Earnest Johnson, Ann Johnson Burchette, all of Warren, Bradley County, AR.

Beginning at the age of 8, Mary lived with her late Aunt Martella Robertson Johnson (Mary’s mother’s sister) and her husband Horace’s family until she married Richard Tucker on April 20, 1962. She loved growing up on the farm near Ingalls, riding the school bus with sister, Ann, and classmates to Hermitage School until she graduated in 1961. Her foster siblings always made her feel welcomed and filled her heart with love and joy. They all attended Union Hill Baptist Church where she became a Christian.

Mary retired from Burlington after 32 years of service and then worked at School Apparel in Star City for 5 years. She loved her job and all the friends she worked with. Family was the most important thing in Mary’s life. Having a family meant everything to her. She measured success by the connectedness and happiness of her children and grandchildren and loved them all so well. She was a faithful wife, loving mother, and amazing Memaw and will be remembered for her lectures, hand-sewn dresses, and lullabies.

After retirement, she spent most of her time in her backyard creating a sanctuary for her friends and family, by using her talents with gardening and horticulture. During the days when the weather was bad, she loved to work on organizing family photos and collecting information for her family tree. She also loved entertaining her Town & Country Garden Club members, with which she was a member for almost 50 years. She and her husband, Richard, were also members of the Order of Eastern Star, chapter 374, for 50 years where she served as a Starpoint.

Mary loved the Lord, and He used her up until the day He took her home to touch many who crossed her path. Mary was a good friend and she was full of wisdom and words of strength and encouragement for everyone she met. Mary saw every opportunity to help people as a gift from the Lord. She took these opportunities seriously and was quick to respond in any way she could, most especially by praying for them or by passing along a cutting from her beloved garden to cheer someone up. Mary was a blessing and she will be deeply missed.

Mary’s family would like to thank her niece Karen Richardson, Nicole Petrouski, Peggy Trantham, Allen Savage and Bradley County Home Health for all of the sweet care and love they gave her, especially in the last few months as she dealt with the difficulties presented with ALS.

Funeral service will be 2:00 p.m. Saturday, November 23, 2019 at the Stephenson-Dearman Chapel with burial to follow in Oakland Cemetery. Visitation will be held 1 hour prior to service time starting at 1:00 p.m. Memorials may be given to ALS Foundation, P O Box 40244, Nashville, TN 37204-0244.Online guestbook www. stephensondearman.com.