William 'Bill' Straehley Tucker Sr.

Mr. William "Bill" Straehley Tucker Sr., 94, of Blytheville, passed away Monday, Aug. 15, 2011, at his home. He was born in Charleston, W.V., to Karl Cecil Tucker and Verona Lillian Straehley Tucker on Sept. 16, 1916.

Mr. Tucker graduated from Kanawha College in West Virginia. He also attended the University of West Virginia and later graduated from the American Institute of Baking and worked for Conlon Baking in Charleston, W.V.

Years later he worked for Greyhound Corporation in Richmond, Va., designing and installing schedules for preventative maintenance records of repairs and costs. He then worked for Columbia Ribbon and Carbon Company in the Chicago area, which brought him to Blytheville when the company relocated here. He retired approximately 25 years later.

After retirement he worked part-time for E.B. Gee and Mississippi County Community College where he taught 55 Alive Mature Driving for AARP for 15 years.

He enjoyed golf, bowling, tennis and he was a good swimmer. He also loved to bake and he loved going to the Senior Citizens Center.

He was a Mason, and a Shriner, a member of the Chamber of Commerce, and he was a Paul Harris Fellow member of Rotary.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a grandson, Brian Tucker; and a brother, Karl Cecile Tucker Jr.

He leaves his wife of 73 years, Vivian Oliver Tucker;

A son, William Straehley Tucker Jr., and his wife, Martha;

A granddaughter, Lynsey W. Tucker of Brooklyn N.Y.; and

One great-granddaughter.

He was loved very much and will be greatly missed.

Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m. today at Carney Funeral Home. Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at Carney Funeral Home Chapel with Dr. Tommy J. Carney officiating. Burial will follow immediately in Carney Cemetery.

The family requests that any donations be made to the First Christian Church of Blytheville where he attended for over 20 years. The guest book may be signed at www.carneyfuneralhome.com