Lela Mae Tucker of Blackwell, Oklahoma, died Tuesday evening, January 5, 2010, in the Blackwell Regional Hospital at the age of 77 years.

Lela Mae Tucker was born on February 1, 1932, in Hickory Grove, Oklahoma. She was the first child of P. R. and Vesta (Hoover) Cox. She grew up in various towns in Oklahoma and graduated from Cleveland High School in 1949. In that same year, she married Harvey Jay Tucker, and they made their home in Blackwell, Oklahoma. Lela and Harvey celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary on December 24, 2009.

Lela spent her early years of marriage as a homemaker and mother to their two sons, Mike and Gary. When they became school-aged she went to work for Massey Insurance Agency for twelve years. She and Harvey then bought Harvey's Grocery Store, and she worked in the family business for seventeen years. Upon selling Harvey's , she opened Julie Anne's Dress Shop and managed the store for twelve years. Harvey likes to say that she worked for him at Harvey's for seventeen years and he worked for her at Julie-Anne's for twelve years. Not only were they married for sixty years, they worked together for most of these years.

Lela had a beautiful home and loved taking care of their house and yard. She loved making quilts, traveling, and spending time with her family. She was a member of Immanuel Baptist Church in Blackwell.

She is survived by her husband, Harvey Tucker; two sons, Gary Tucker and wife Teena, and Mike Tucker and wife Cathie; a brother, Harold Cox and wife Marva; a sister, Peggy Massey; and brother-in-law, Bill Massey. She is also survived by five grandchildren, Josh Tucker and wife Holly, Justin Tucker and wife Crystal, Annie Grell and husband Jared, Ashley Moody and husband Blake, and Cherith Tucker; and eight great grandchildren, Maxson, Mia, Karlie, Laine, Talon and Sage Tucker, Macie Mae Moody and Balen Grell.

Services are scheduled for 10:00 a.m., Monday, January 11th in the Immanuel Baptist Church in Blackwell with the Rev. Matt Smith of Immanuel Baptist Church officiating.
Burial will held Monday afternoon at 3:30 p.m. in the Hickory Grove Cemetery in Hickory Grove, Oklahoma.

Casketbearers will be Chuck Cox, Brock Massey, Justin Tucker, Josh Tucker, Jared Grell, Blake Moody, Greg Harman and Harry Jamison.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorial donations be made to the First Christian Church Youth Group in c/o Roberts and Son Funeral Home, 120 W. Padon, Blackwell, Oklahoma 74631.