Jessie "Lois" Tucker passed away peacefully Friday, April 21, 2017, at Belfair of Shawnee, after a long struggle with Alzheimer's. She was born July 6, 1923, outside of Prim, Arkansas, to the late William Henry and Emma (Verser) Dollar. What they lacked in resources they made up for with bountiful love in the family that included eleven children. As a teenager Lois relocated to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, where she became a true Rosie the Riveter when she went to work at Tinker Air Force Base, serving as a plane inspector during World War II. She often told the story of being the last person to inspect one reconfigured plane that she knew must have a very special purpose. That plane turned out to be the Enola Gay, which later dropped the bomb on Hiroshima.
At Tinker AFB Lois had another chance encounter, this time meeting the love of her life, Ulysses S. "Tuck" Tucker, who she married January 10, 1948. Together they raised three children, after which Lois returned to work in a Tinker AFB warehouse before eventually retiring. Lois enjoyed spending as much time as possible with her family at their Lake Texoma cabin. She especially loved to fish and was just as happy with quick catches as she was patiently waiting in solace for the fish to bite. She also refinished and resold garage sale furniture finds, had a zest for gardening and canning vegetables and jellies to last year round, and lovingly sewed beautiful patchwork quilts that still feel like a warm hug from her. Lois was the epitome of the Southern Matriarch, acting as the glue that held together a family. She consistently provided support and exuded love, paved the way for a better life for her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, and served meals made with a main ingredient of love to all who sat at her dining table. That same dining table would transform into a card table as soon as the kitchen was clean. She taught everyone in the family to play, and she didn't lower expectations or teach "down" but rather challenged others to rise to their full potential. That sometimes meant that during a game of canasta or rummy a person could be holding nearly a full deck of cards when she would say, "I think I'll go out." Games didn't stop at the dining table. She also watched game shows like Price is Right and Wheel of Fortune every day and passed on the tradition to her family. Lois was an active member of Brookwood Baptist Church, where for years she served as Secretary of her Sunday School class and worked in the kitchen to prepare meals for Vacation Bible School. She also loved gospel music and watched the Gaither Family every night. She is preceded in death by her husband Ulysses S. "Tuck" Tucker, son Jerry Groves, daughter Reba "Sue" Mills, granddaughter Natalie Foale, and nine siblings. Her legacy lives on with her survivors: daughter Kay Foale; grandchildren Julie Mills, Amber Leslie, and Shawn (Jennifer) Groves; great-grandchildren Madison Leslie, Jordan Leslie, Sage French, Scout French, Graham Groves, and Grayson Groves; and sister Faye (Bob) Whitaker. Services will be held Wednesday, April 26, 2017, at 2:00 p.m., at Resthaven Funeral Home, 500 SW 104th Oklahoma City, OK 73139. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations to Disabled American Veterans, 2311 N Central Ave #1000b Oklahoma City, OK 73105.

---

 Service Information