Helen Tucker

Helen Ruth Rexroat Tucker 92, of Atwood died October 20, 2015 at Good Samaritans Society, Atwood, KS.

Born February 13, 1923 to James H. and Edna Mclean Rexroat in Mattoon, IL, Ruth was the youngest of seven children. She grew up on a farm east of Mattoon, attending country school and graduating from Mattoon High School in 1941.

Ruth met Tony, her husband, when he was caught in the family cherry tree, eating cherries. After graduation, Tony was employed at Woodward Governor Company in Rockford, IL supporting the war effort. While home on a short Christmas vacation they set their wedding date, December 26, 1941. To this union three daughters were born, Maralyn Jean, Melinda Kay, and Rebecca Jo. The couple celebrated their 70th Anniversary on December 26, 2011.

Apart from being a wonderful wife and mother, Ruth had many other talents. She worked as a professional seamstress sewing many hours for others. When her girls were older, she worked fast food restaurants, and later became a manager of a large steakhouse. In 1976, Ruth and Tony packed up their belongings and began the 786 mile journey to Atwood, KS, where their married daughters and grandchildren lived. Tony opened “Tony’s Auto Machine Shop” and in 1979, Ruth began working as manager of the “Snack Shack”.

She loved preparing meals for family and friends. With the help of Tony’s gardening skills, Ruth quickly turned produce into delicious meals and deserts. A favorite of the grandchildren was her strawberry-rhubarb jam.

The couple loved to travel to see friends and family and many times their car traveled the roads to Las Vegas. Many happy memories were made during these trips, seeing all the sites and enjoying the huge selection of restaurants along the way. The little house on 2nd Street became known as “Tucker Inn” due to the number of friends who stopped while traveling through to see Ruth and Tony.

After retirement, Ruth spent many enjoyable hours hand sewing quilts, generously giving them to family and friends. She loved watching all sports and rooting for her favorite teams. Ruth was a lifelong member of the Episcopal Church.

Ruth was preceded in death by all of her siblings; husband, Tony; daughter, Rebecca Jo; grandson, Mason Dennis Bell and great-grandsons, Aden Reeves and Jasper Kendall Grafel.

She is survived by daughters, Maralyn (Roger) Philpott and Melinda (Roger) Carlson; six grandchildren, Cynthia, Gregory, Deanna, Gwendolyn, Sarah and Susan; 18 great-grandchildren and 8 great-great-grandchildren.

Cremation was chosen. A memorial service will take place at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, November 7, 2015 at St. Alban’s Episcopal Church in McCook, NE. Memorials are suggested to the Good Samaritan Society, Atwood, or Ascension on the Prairie Episcopal Church, of Colby in care of Baalmann Mortuary, PO Box 391, Colby, KS 67701. Online condolences: www.baalmannmortuary.com