Mary R Tucker
(August 29, 1924 – November 27, 2013)
Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Monday, December 2, 2013 in the Cowden Free Methodist Church, Cowden, IL with Rev. Ron Tucker and Rev. Steve Neville officiating. Visitation will be from 4:00-7:00 p.m. Sunday in the church and one hour before services on Monday. Burial will be in Mound Cemetery, Cowden, IL. Memorials may be given to the Cowden Free Methodist Church or the Cowden Senior Center.
Mrs. Tucker was born on August 29, 1924 in Fayette County, near Vandalia, IL, the daughter of Hayden Arios and Lula Edith Siebert VanHorn. She spent her early childhood in Fancher, IL, as her father was the Pastor of a three point circuit, including Fancher, Sylvan and Stewardson Free Methodist Churches. Her family moved to Cowden, IL when Mary was in high school. She married Corwin Albert Tucker on January 2, 1943 in Springfield, IL. They spent their entire lives together on a farm northwest of Cowden until Corwin passed away on the morning of June 2, 1991. She moved into town and lived in Cowden from 1993 until the summer of 2013, when she moved to Shelbyville. Mary was an active member of the Cowden Free Methodist Church, where she taught Sunday school for children and youth, and served as the Society Official Board Secretary, Worship Song Leader and Choir Director. She was also a coordinator for the Shelby County Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP), retiring in 1997. She continued doing volunteer work and later served on the RSVP Advisory Council. Mary read her Bible and wrote in her journal nearly every morning. She also loved to sing and entertain family and friends in her home. She will be forever remembered for her dedication to her church and to her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
She is survived by her sons, Gary Phillip Tucker and wife Mary Ann of Lyles, TN, Dennis Corwin Tucker and wife Rosalie of Cowden, IL, Ronald Van Tucker and wife Joy of Assumption, IL and Steven Dale Tucker and wife Pam of Shelbyville, IL; daughter, Cheryl Lynn Ballinger and husband Stephen of Pleasant Plains, IL; brother, Paul Leslie VanHorn and wife Marge of Jefferson City, MO; 13 grandchildren; 25 great grandchildren; and four great great grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; daughter, Sharon Elaine Tucker; sister, Wanda Wickersham; six brothers-in-law; and four sisters-in-law.
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