Sally Ann Tucker (Tulia)

Sally Ann Garner Tucker passed away peacefully on July 24, 2012. She led a long and productive life, and lived to be 95 years old. She was born on April 17, 1917, in Ranger, Texas, to Marvin Edgar and Tellie Garner. She was the 7th of nine children. She served as a nurse in the Army Air Force during World War II. She was assigned to the 555th Army Air Force Base Unit. She told stories about riding the troop train to Manchester, New Hampshire, and what an adventure it was for a young woman who had never been out of Texas to see what life was like so far away from home. She was honorably discharged at the end of the war in 1945 and continued nursing as a career until she retired. She was honored for her military service with a brick bearing her name at the Lubbock, Texas war memorial, and she was also honored on the Women In Military Service for America Memorial in Washington, DC. Sally Ann was always active in her community. She volunteered with hospice in Arizona, and was active with Special Olympics. She was a longtime member of Chandler Church of Christ. Even when she was in her 90’s, she actively volunteered at church, making quilts for the homeless, serving refreshments at church events, and participating in making care packages for military service members serving overseas. While she lived in Chandler, she volunteered with About Care, working with their computer assistance program which provides computers and training for people in Arizona who are elderly or physically challenged. She set the example for other seniors by learning to use a computer even though she was 91! She was able to email family members who were living in Asia! When her health seriously declined, she moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico to be near her family. She was a member of Northeast Church of Christ in Albuquerque, and lived at Atria Vista del Rio Assisted Living Community. She is survived by her daughter, Paula Stiles and husband, Thomas; her grandchildren, Chad Heard, Christopher Stiles, Abigail Stiles and husband, Patrick Martin; and her great-grandchildren, Alexander and Caeden Adams, Max and Miriya Stiles, and Ciara Martin-Stiles, and many nieces, nephews, and much loved family members and friends. She also survived by Elizabeth Ann Lemmon and her children. She was preceded in death by her husband, Paul Max Tucker, her parents, three brothers, and five sisters. Her family would like to express their thanks to Northeast Church of Christ for their continued prayers and support, Atria Vista del Rio Assisted Living Community, and Hospice of the Sandias. Memorial services will be held at Kornerstone Funeral Directors Chapel, 201 W. Broadway, in Tulia, Texas on August 4, 2012, at 11:00 am. A memorial service will be held at Northeast Church of Christ, 11000 Paseo del Norte, in Albuquerque, New Mexico on August 11, 2012, at 11:00 am.