Our dearly loved Hazel Fern (Denton) Tucker died peacefully Feb. 1, 2008 at Harrison Medical Center, joining her beloved Robert in heaven. She was 96.
Mrs. Tucker was born on Nov. 21, 1911 in Tacoma to Charles K. and Ella Mae Denton.
She graduated from Lincoln High School in 1928 and attended Tacoma Business College. She met the love of her life, Robert, at a Fleet Week dance in Tacoma in 1932. Three years later she traveled east to marry Robert E. Tucker in Angola, Ind. on Feb. 2, 1935.
They made their first home in Mansfield, Ohio. They moved to Fort Wayne, Ind. and then to Tacoma, finally making their permanent home in Bremerton in 1941. They lived on Victoria Way and N. Cambrian when they found their dream home on Chico Creek and have lived there ever since. Mrs. Tucker taught piano for 60 years, only to retire in 2006 at the young age of 95. She was an active member of Kitsap Music Teachers’ Association for most of those years. She accompanied her longtime friend, Faye Bichon, to her violin recitals. While raising her family, she was active in Boy Scouts of America and belonged to several neighborhood clubs.
Mrs. Tucker will be long-remembered by family and friends for her passion and dedication to our Lord. She worked with Women’s Fellowship and taught Sunday school to the 3- to 5-year-olds at Lincoln Avenue Bible Church for more than 50 years. Some of her other passions were spending time with her family, listening to and playing music, attending the Bremerton Symphony, being involved in her church family, teaching students to enjoy the piano, hearing what all the grandkids and great-grandkids were up to, bird watching from her kitchen window and feeding her squirrels. She also loved flowers, boating and traveling east to visit with the Tucker family. One of her all-time favorite clubs she attended was “Fat Ladies.” More than 50 years ago, ladies in the church decided they would weigh in at home and charge each other a nickel when they gained weight — even though none of them were ever overweight.
Mrs. Tucker was truly the matriarch of her family. She was a kind and generous woman who was always humble. She was an exquisite example of a true Christian woman and will be sorely missed by family and friends. Hazel wanted to be remembered as being a friendly friend.
She was preceded in death by her beloved Robert on Oct. 8, 1997; and her brother Bud Denton years ago.
Survivors include sons Robert (Sharon) Tucker and James (Jeri) Tucker; grandchildren Rex (Vanessa), Eric, Jenny and Monica Tucker; and great-grandchildren Max, Seth and Benjamin Tucker.
The funeral for Mrs. Tucker to celebrate her life will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday, Feb. 8, at Lincoln Avenue Bible Church, 1250 Lincoln Ave. in Bremerton. Internment is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. at Forest Lawn Cemetery.
Visitation will be at Lewis Funeral Chapel, 5303 Kitsap Way, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Feb. 6 and 7.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Hazel Tucker Memorial Fund at Lincoln Avenue Bible Church or to the Bremerton Symphony Association in her name.
