CHICOPEE – James Thomas “Tom” “Jim” Tucker, 69, a longtime resident of the Aldenville section of Chicopee, was Called Safely Home on Thursday August, 28, 2014. He passed into Eternal Life at his home surrounded by the care and comfort of his loving family. He was born in Mobile, Alabama on March 16, 1945, a beloved son of the late James Alvin Tucker and May (Watkins) Tucker. During his early years, he was raised in Dora, Alabama before moving to the Chicago, Illinois area. He graduated from Proviso East High School in Illinois. He enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1964 and served his country during the Vietnam War. In 1968, he was stationed at Westover Air Force Base and purchased a home in the Aldenville section of Chicopee where he lived for many years and continued his military career during Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm. Following his discharge at Westover Air Force Base, he served in the Air Force Reserves and retired with the rank of Chief Master Sergeant after 23 years of service. He was also employed by the Department of Defense as a program analyst at Hamilton Standard in Windsor Locks, Connecticut. Following his retirement from the Department of Defense, he worked part-time at a number of local car dealerships in the parts department and as a customer service driver. During his leisure time, Tom was an avid golfer and a member of the Ludlow Country Club. He was also a member of the Fairview Council 4044 Knights of Columbus in Chicopee where he volunteered at many of the council functions. Active in his faith, he was a communicant of Sainte Rose de Lima Church in Chicopee. Tom was a quiet man who adored his family and showered them with his love and affection which was returned to him a thousand fold. He leaves his beloved wife and best friend, Anita M. (Geoffroy) Tucker. They were married on Independence Day, July 4, 1969 at Sainte Rose de Lima Church in Chicopee and were blessed with 45 years of happiness together. He leaves his two loving daughters, Christine M. DeBarge and her husband, Stephen, of Belchertown, and Karen A. Sciarretta and her husband, Paul, of Chicopee; his five cherished grandchildren whom he adored, Michael, Matthew and Jillian DeBarge, and Natalie and Daniel Sciarretta; his four sisters, Rochelle Lowery and her husband, Clarence, and Beverly Haddock, all of Dora, AL, Phyllis Goodhart and her husband, Abraham, of Chandler, AZ, and Deborah Dial and her husband, Ted, of Hoover, AL; his dear sister-in-law of the Geoffroy family, Sister Aline Geoffroy, PM of the Sisters of Presentation of Mary in Methuen, MA; his extended family members and close friends, John and Lisa Roy and their children, Evan, Noelle, and Ella, all of Chicopee; and several dear nephews, nieces, cousins and many friends. Besides his parents, he was also predeceased by his brother, Knox Keith Wesson. He will also be sadly missed by his faithful canine companion, his dog, Maggie May. His funeral will be held on Wednesday morning, September 3, 2014 beginning at the St. Pierre – Phaneuf Aldenville Chapels, (413-532-9806), 13 Dale Street, Chicopee, MA 01020, (funeral home will open at 8 a.m.), followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 9:30 a.m. in Sainte Rose de Lima Church, 600 Grattan Street, Chicopee, MA 01020. His Committal Service with US Air Force Military Honors will follow the Mass at 11 a.m. in the Chapel at the Massachusetts Veterans’ Memorial Cemetery, 1390 Main Street, Agawam, MA 01001. His family will receive friends at the funeral home on Tuesday, September 2, 2014 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. The parking lot and main entrance are located in the rear of the funeral home at 20 Lafayette Street, Chicopee, MA 01020. His family has requested that memorial donations be made in his memory to Mercy Hospice, 2112 Riverdale Street, West Springfield, MA 01089, or the Sisters of Presentation of Mary, 209 Lawrence Street, Methuen, MA 01844, or to Saint Joan of Arc School, 587 Grattan Street, Chicopee, MA 01020. For more details, please visit: www.stpierrephaneuf.com