Jack E. Tucker
September 6, 1935 - April 13, 2008
Obituary
When you hear the name Jack Tucker, several images come to mind: a tall man with a penchant for hats; an ornery man ready with a smart comment or two; a man whose gruff exterior melted to show the big heart beating inside, with each eye-twinkling smile.
Jack was born on September 6, 1935 and grew up with two brothers: Bill and Don Tucker, and one sister: Katherine Morlock. In school, Jack met the woman who would stay by his side, through thick and thin, for 54 years. Jack married Darlene Hutchison in 1954, and began a life that would bring them much joy, but also great heartache.
They had five children as individual as they were: artistic Gary, dapper Rick, adventurous Sandi, free-spirited Lori and Charles, with the sensitive soul. The family settled in Des Moines. Both Jack and Darlene worked at Boeing. Their children grew, and joined their parents at Boeing.
Heartbreak struck in 1978 with the death of Rick, just 21 years old. Unable to remain in Des Moines, Jack and Darlene found solace in Woodinville, and began to plant the seeds of their legacy. Gary joined them, in a house next door on the vast property for his own family. Sandi and Lori did the same, raising their families a stone’s throw from their parents. Charles moved in later, and became a father as well. The Tucker ‘homestead’ became a compound, with Jack and Darlene surrounded by their children and grandchildren.
The expanded family celebrated holidays, birthdays, graduations, and weddings. They helped each other plant gardens. Grandma and Poppy opened their doors and hearts to their grandchildren: Nicki, Lacee, Jacqueline, Veronica, Ryan, Drew, Shanelle, Devon and Johlene. Later, the brood would grow even bigger, with great-grandchildren: Dawson, Cassidy, Elijah, Jack, Ethan, Sawyer and Emelly.
Jack retired from Boeing in 1994 after 39 years, but he remained active. He loved tooling around on his tractor; planting all the flowers Darlene bought after griping about how much they cost then boasting on how big and beautiful he grew them. He was always ready with a helping hand, but there was a catch: You had to ASK him for help. Once you did, you quickly learned, there wasn’t anything Jack couldn’t do. Hook up a washer and dryer? No problem. Set up a water and ice system for a refrigerator? Done. What did he want in return? Nothing, except maybe a good cup of coffee.
Just days before Jack left us, he saw a wish come true, when he took delivery of a ’51 Ford pickup truck, a shiny red truck lovingly restored by his brother. He was excited about that truck. You could see it in the smile that lit up his face as he talked about it.
Jack left too soon, but when you think of him, remember that smile. Remember the twinkle. And remember the man with a penchant for hats, who loved to lend a helping hand, and who shared his big heart willingly with anyone who got past his gruff exterior.
And that was pretty much everyone.