Ellen “Tommie” Thompson Tucker, 89, died Monday, December 19, 2011, at Select Specialty Hospital in Tallahassee, Florida. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, December 21, 2011, in the Memorial Chapel of Tifton’s First Baptist Church. Dr. Wayne Roe and Dr. W. Ches Smith, III will officiate with burial to follow in Oak Ridge Cemetery. Olin Hargrove, Andy Oliver, Dale Beard, Lee Saye, Wayne Whittle and John Hughes will serve as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be Bob Lynch, Emory McMillan and the members of the Adult II Open Door Sunday school class of Tifton’s First Baptist Church. The family will receive friends on Tuesday, December 20, 2011, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals.
Mrs. Tucker was born on November 8, 1922 in Jackson, Michigan and was raised in Eagle River, Wisconsin. She was the daughter of the late Clifford and Ivagene Thompson. She was also preceded in death by her husband, Eston “Nick” Tucker, Jr.; two sisters; two brothers; and a son-in-law, Ronnie Branch.
Mrs. Tucker was a registered nurse, who served in the Western Pacific during World War II, where she earned an AP Theater Ribbon, two Battle Stars; two Overseas bars and a Victory Medal. She met her future husband, Nick, while serving in the Pacific. They married and moved to Tifton. She also worked as a registered nurse at Tift General Hospital, and later, a laboratory technician with the University of Georgia Coastal Plains Experiment Station.
She was an active member of the First Baptist Church of Tifton, where she was a member of the Joyful Sound Choir and served as secretary for many years. She was also an active member of the Adult II Open Door Sunday school class, where she served as secretary.
Ellen loved to travel. She spent many weeks traveling with the Golden Age Club on trips all over the United States, Europe and the Middle East. She loved classical music and attended all the First Tuesday concerts at ABAC.
Monday through Friday, you could find her walking around the track at the First Baptist Church Family Life Center with her friends.
Mrs. Tucker is survived by four children, Shirlee Tucker and Nick Tucker, both of Tifton, Caryl Branch of Chula and Barbara Tucker of Woodstock; two grandchildren, Kym Branch of Chula and Lee Branch and his wife, Saye of Ashburn; and two great-grandchildren, Blake Branch and Ella Branch.
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to the Forward in Faith Building Fund at the First Baptist Church of Tifton, 404 Love Avenue, Tifton, GA 31794 or The Gideons International, Tifton Gideon Camp,
P. O. Box 7051, Tifton, GA 31793.