Bill Tucker, age 93, died Thursday, October 31, 2024, at Morton County Hospital in Elkhart, Kansas. He was born July 20, 1931, in Wilburton, Kansas, the son of Orrel and Gertrude (Odell) Tucker.
Bill was proud that he lived his entire life in Morton County. He went to grade school in Wilburton and graduated from Elkhart High School in 1949. A few years after graduation Bill owned and operated a Cities Service Gas Station on Main Street in Elkhart where he met and fell in love with Sue Dean from Kansas City. They were married on May 5, 1956, in Mountain Home, Arkansas. Bill was a farmer and rancher and was very politically and civic-minded. He was involved in numerous boards and clubs, including Elkhart Jaycee’s where he also served as the State President, Elkhart Kiwanis Club, Kansas Hospital Association, he was a Kansas delegate to the Republican National Convention in Detroit 1984 and New Orleans 1988, served 19 years on the Morton County Hospital Board, Elkhart Cemetery Board, charter member of First National Bank of Elkhart, Board Chairman of Heartland Tri-State Bank, and served on many committees and was a member of the Elkhart Methodist Church. Bill enjoyed his family, going to school activities, community events, the Morton County Fair, and driving around town.
Bill is survived by his wife, Sue, of their home; sons, John Tucker and wife, Lisa, and Jim Tucker and wife, Shawna, all of Elkhart; grandchildren, Tiffani Dudley and husband, David, Jarrod Tucker and wife, Linell, Emily Wesley and friend, Jordan Larkin, Macy Tucker, Evyn Lyle, and Max Tucker; and great-grandchildren, Cooper Dudley, Kenadi Dudley, Kyla Tucker, Luke Tucker, and Gabby Tucker. He is also survived by many cherished nieces, nephews, cousins, neighbors and friends.
Bill is preceded in death by his parents; daughter, Cindy and her husband, Jay Wesley; brothers, Carl, Jim, Allen and their spouses.
Funeral service will be held Saturday, November 9, 2024, at 10:00 AM at Elkhart Methodist Church with Pastor David Eckert and Reverend Terrill Giddens officiating. Interment will follow at the Elkhart Cemetery. Visitation will be Friday, November 8, 2024, from 4:00 PM until 8:00 PM at Garnand Funeral Home in Elkhart. Memorial contributions may be given to Morton County Health Systems in care of Garnand Funeral Home, PO Box 854, Elkhart, KS 67950. Condolences may be posted at www.garnandfuneralhomes.com.
