Published: April 26, 2008 02:59 pm      

John L. Tucker

John L. Tucker, 57, of McAlester, died Friday, April 25, 2008, at his residence.

Memorial services will be at 11 a.m. Monday at Bishop Chapel of Memories with Pastor Leroy Kerbo officiating. Arrangements are under the direction of Bishop Funeral Service.

Born Sept. 13, 1950, in Nesoho, Mo., to Ross and Letha Hilburn Tucker, he graduated from Truman High School in Independence, Mo.

He began his newspaper career as a copy boy at the Kansas City (Mo.) Times and Star in 1968 while attending Missouri State University. After college, he went to work for Stauffer Communications in Nevada, Mo., as advertising director. He worked for Stauffer for 24 years.

He was named publisher of the Marshall (Mo.) Democrat News in 1978, and in 1983, he was named publisher of the Shawnee News-Star. In 2003, he worked at the Edmond Sun as advertising director. He was named to his current position as publisher of the McAlester News-Capital in 2005.

Survivors include his wife, Rae Tucker, of the home; four sons and two daughters-in-law, Jeffrey John Tucker, of Shawnee, Matthew Miles Tucker and wife, Michelle, of Shawnee, Stacey Scott Tucker and wife, Makisha, of Shawnee, Jonathan Cale Cummins, of the home.

And, six grandchildren, Jesse Cole Tucker, Ross Dewayne Tucker, Croix Afton Tucker, Sosie Mila Tucker, Avery Dawn Tucker, Kaylee Moue Tucker; his mother, Letha Tucker, of Seneca Mo.; the mother of his children, Deborah Ellis of Shawnee, and a niece and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his father, Ross Tucker, and a brother, Marvin Wayne Tucker.

The family requests memorials be made to the McAlester Public Schools, Special Education, 1 Buffalo Dr., McAlester, OK, 74501.