Ruth Tucker

Ruth Tucker, 79, of Gabriels, died peacefully surrounded by her caring family at Adirondack Medical Center on Sunday, July 17, 2011.

Ruth was born in Waddington, NY (St. Lawrence County) of Murray and Lena (Secord) Oliver on January 23, 1932. She moved to Gabriels in 1936 with her family and where she attended elementary school in the Town of Brighton. She graduated Saranac Lake High School with a regents diploma in 1950.

Ruth married Donald K. Tucker on May 12, 1951.

Ruth was employed by the Sisters of Mercy at the Gabriels Sanatorium for about seven years, starting while she was in high school and continuing until child rearing took precedent. She was bookkeeper for Don Tucker’s potato farm from 1951 until 1966. In 1973 when Tucker Farms was incorporated, she became a director and was elected secretary and treasurer, posts she held until 2009. From 1983 until 2009 she was bookkeeper for Tucker Farms Inc.

In 1968 at the urging of Martin Lyon, she began growing vegetables for campers at Osgood Pond, Rainbow Lake and the St. Regis Lakes. Until increasing health problems forced her out of her garden in 2005, she spent summers growing and providing garden-fresh vegetables for many regular campers on the lakes. Later, she added flowers to her already large garden and began furnishing flower arrangements for the campers as well as various churches and organizations. Over the years, most of her customers became long-standing friends.

She was a life-long member of the Gabriels Presbyterian Church until it closed, then St. Regis Presbyterian Church, later called Adirondack Presbyterian Church. For many years she was an elected elder of the session for the Gabriels Presbyterian Church and its successor. She was a member of The Gleaners of the Gabriels Presbyterian Church, a woman’s organization of the church (not affiliated with the Ancient Order of the Gleaners). This group was later renamed Presbyterian Women. She was a dedicated member of the bible study group.

In 1958 she was elected tax collector for the Town of Brighton. In the late 1970s and early 1980s she was elected to three terms on the Town of Brighton town council where she most notably served on the Citizen’s Advisory Committee for Camp Gabriels (1982).

Ruth was Den Mother for Cub Scout Pack 12 from 1962 until about 1968. She was also a member of the Brighton & Harrietstown (B&H) Grange and was initiated into Sixth Degree of the New York State Grange in 1948.

Ruth wrote the chapter on the Tucker Family in Brighton 2000: Life in the Town of Brighton, Franklin County, New York in the year 2000 by the Brighton Architectural Heritage Committee.

Ruth is survived by her husband of 60 years, Donald K. Tucker; all four of her children: Richard E. Tucker of Niskayuna, NY, Steven A. Tucker, James A. Tucker (Michele) and Thomas D. Tucker (Jennifer), all of Gabriels; her siblings: Donald Oliver (Cynthia) of Bloomingdale, Mary Shumway (Cassius) of Seneca Falls, NY, Robert Oliver (Dorothy) of Gabriels; her step-brother Franklin Guyette of Rochester, NY; four grandchildren: Lawrence Tucker of Whiting, VT, Michael Tucker (Arielle) of Zurich, Switzerland, Benjamin Tucker of Gabriels, Tyler Rule of Milton, PA; three step-grandchildren: Tyler Rondeau, Brianna Rondeau, Randi Rae Rondeau, all of Gabriels and many, many nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by her parents, Murray Oliver and Lena Oliver Guyette, on May 26, 1942 and June 24, 1995, respectively, her step-father Ezra Guyette (May 21, 1981) and her brother William Oliver (Lorna) (May 19, 2005), and her step-brother William Guyette of Springfield, MO (Jan 28, 2006).

Calling hours will take place at the Fortune-Keough Funeral Home in Saranac Lake on Wednesday July 20, 2011 from 2 to4 and 7 to 9 PM. A funeral service will take place at 11:00 AM on Thursday July 21, 2011 the Church of the Assumption in Gabriels with Rev. Richard Spear Officiating. Burial will follow at Mountain View Cemetery in Gabriels.

Donations in memory of Ruth Tucker may be made to the Paul Smiths-Gabriels Volunteer Fire Department. Family and friends can also share their memories and sign the online guest book at fortunekeough funeral home.com.