Ethel Inez Tucker

Ethel Inez Alderson Tucker was born April 20, 1921, in Goldthwaite, Texas to parents Joel Andrew Alderson and Lizzie Adeline Brewer. As 4thborn, her older siblings are Daymon, Ruby, and Lyda. Her younger siblings are Nora, Joel, Archie, and Ada Ruth. On July 22, 2021, Ethel passed quietly into heaven at the age of 100 years.

A funeral service is planned for 11:00 a.m., Saturday, August 7, 2021 at Jenkins Funeral Home with interment to follow at Odd Fellows Cemetery, Burnet, TX.

In 1941, Ethel married Vernon Ellis Tucker whom she met at Heckman's Cafe in Burnet where she worked as a waitress. They married in Galveston and resided there as Tuck was stationed there in the Coast Guard as part of the defense of America's coastline during WWII. Soon after they moved when Tuck was stationed in New York City. This war time duty was the only time they lived outside of Texas during their marriage. In New York, Ethel did "war work" at a factory that produced electrical components while Tuck was on board a ship providing safe passage to U.S. ships traveling to Cuba.

After the war, they returned home to Burnet, had their first child, Betty, born in 1945, and bought their first house in Burnet on Pecan Street. In 1952, their son, Larry, was born and in 1958, their son, David was born. In 1955 they built a house on Oak Street which remained the family home until 2020 when Ethel sold it and went to live with Betty and her family. Betty and her family continued to care for Ethel until she passed.

Ethel was devoted to her family, finding joy and fulfillment in her domestic duties as a wife and mother. She kept a spotless house, was a master seamstress, quilter, gardener, food preserver and kept her door open to friends and family who often popped in to visit. She never forgot a grandchild's birthday. 

And she loved her extended family of nephews and nieces too. Family was of the utmost importance to her. One way she and her brothers and sisters ensured that family bonds remained tight despite the busy-ness of life, was by instituting an annual Alderson family reunion which has occurred every year since the 1960s. She was an integral part, a fixture, that cannot be replaced.

Ethel had several business endeavors in her life. She was a professional seamstress, making beautiful costumes and prom dresses and just about anything needed. She kept the business records for Tuck’s welding business. Later, she owned a children's clothing store in Burnet, Ethel's Tiny Tots and Teens, and another store in Arlington. In her midlife she fulfilled one of her lifelong desires and became a Licensed Vocational Nurse. Around this time, she also started a wallpaper hanging business. But all of these financial endeavors never interfered with the attention she paid to her family, which always came first.

Ethel and Tuck were faithful members of the Burnet Church of Christ where they established lifelong friendships with the church family.

She is survived by her brothers Joel and wife, Nila and Archie and wife, Verna; her three children, Betty, and husband, Bill; Larry, and wife, Teresa; David, and wife, Patty. Grandchildren: Amy and Steven (wife Tina) Haden, Nathaniel (wife Shanna), Joel (wife Christina), Leah (husband Eric), Julia (husband Zak), Melanie (husband John), and Justin Tucker. Great grandchildren: Noah Castamore; Emma, Elijah, and Carter Haden; Elese, Jude, Levi, Benjamin, Jessie, Aubrey, Elijah, Corina, and Kaleb Tucker; Isabella, Dylan, and Addie Anderson; Ruby Konys. Great Great grandchildren: Indiana, Anettestasia, Tallulah, and Maverick English; Tucker Koch; Hudson and Aurora Tucker. Numerous nieces and nephews.

Ethel had a sharp mind, a witty sense of humor, was intelligent, diligent, dependable, and was devoted to those she loved. She will be missed by all who had the privilege of knowing her.

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