RUBY JEAN JONES TUCKER

Fort Worth, Texas - Jean Jones Tucker died peacefully at home on February 22, 2024. She was 89 years old.

A Memorial Service celebrating her life will be held 11 am Thursday, March 7, at the First Christian Church, 201 Walnut Street, Albany, Texas. 

The wife of William E. “Bill” Tucker for 67 years and the daughter of A.V. and Nellie Ruby Jones, Jean grew up with her brothers, A.V. Jr. and Jon Rex, in Albany, Texas.

Following her graduation from Albany High School, Jean spent six weeks traveling through Europe, an experience that touched her deeply. Then she entered Texas Christian University and received her B.S. degree in 1955. She planned to become a missionary of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) but met Bill at TCU, and they married. As a consequence, she set aside her intention to be a missionary in favor of his determination to prepare for a career in stateside higher education. Jean and Bill moved to Connecticut so he could begin graduate study at Yale University. She found a job teaching fifth graders at the Ridge Road Elementary School in New Haven. After a few months in the classroom, she resigned to become a mother. Although she took on many and varied responsibilities over the years, Family came first. 

Bill’s wise and gracious helpmate, Jean served as First Lady at Bethany College (West Virginia) and Texas Christian University. A longtime member of University Christian Church, she was one of the first two women elders in the storied history of the congregation. She also helped launch and participated in the church’s “Room in the Inn” program. At the national level, she chaired the Division of Overseas Ministry of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). 

A long-term trustee of the Old Jail Art Center in Albany, Jean gave time and energy to numerous community concerns in Fort Worth. A one-time board chair of the Child Study Center, she recruited several former teachers to join her in forming “Tucker’s Tutors” to help students who needed assistance at Tanglewood Elementary School. Among other activities, she served on the founding board of the Aids Outreach Center. 

In her goings and doings, Jean, like her mother, traveled all over the globe, but her two favorite places on earth were her Fort Worth home and a family ranch surrounding Lake Delafosse near Albany. 

The Tucker Family wishes to express heartfelt gratitude to Amy Folsom and Lola Zapata for the care and companionship they provided to Jean in her last months. 

Jean is survived by her daughter, Jan Tucker Scully (Bob); son, Will Tucker (Galey); son, Vance Tucker (Marcy); grandchildren, Kate Scully Wells (Brice), Amanda Scully Peterson (John), Hunter Tucker (Ashley), Dillon Tucker (Jacqueline), A.J. Tucker, Matt Tucker, and Hank Tucker; nine great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. Jean is also survived by her younger brother, Jon Rex Jones, and sister-in-law, Pat Lidia Jones. 

In addition to her beloved husband, Bill, Jean is predeceased by her parents, brother, A.V Jones Jr., and sister-in-law, Ann McArron Jones. 

Memorial gifts may be made to Texas Christian University for the Jean Jones Tucker Endowed Scholarship or The Old Jail Art Center in Albany, Texas.