Marion Tucker

Marion Tucker was a giving woman with an infectious spirit. She loved to laugh and made others laugh. She celebrated life and invited others to be part of her joy. Putting family before herself, she loved them unconditionally and opened her heart to all around her.

Marion was born at home Detroit, Michigan on July 1, 1922. She grew up in Dearborn on Appoline Street when the United States was recovering from the First World War and straining to rebuild the economy. With growth in industry and employment, Americans were eager to celebrate, and the period of the Roaring Twenties was born. However, by the end of the decade, stock markets fell and countries around the world experienced long years of economic depression. Sacrifices were made and parents willingly did what they could to better the lives of their children.

Robert “Bob” and Marjorie “Grace” Longmate worked tirelessly for their family that included Marion’s siblings Art, Virginia and Robert. He did purchasing for Ford Motor Company, and she combined her homemaking tasks with a miniature candy-making business. During the holiday season, she took orders for peanut brittle and sold it for $.30 a pound.

Marion and her brothers and sister enjoyed a childhood filled with neighborhood friends from morning till evening. They played baseball in summer and went sledding in winter. Typically, younger kids want to join in the rough-and-tumble of their older siblings, and young Bob remembers being the “accidental” victim of a sled ride that landed him in a snow bank.

Marion had a bit of mischief in her, as evidenced by her choice to play hookie one school day. In fifth grade, she skipped class with the boy who lived in the upstairs flat. When her sister Virginia tattled on them, both were in trouble, but Marion's grades were none the worse for it. She graduated from Fordson High School in Dearborn and kept on looking for freedom and adventure.

In the summertime, Marion, Virginia and friends headed for Ipperwash Beach, Ontario, an Army base and recreation area. They went to the “casino” in which (unlike present day casinos) soldiers and guests played games like skeeball, pool and darts. The girls were looking for fun, but as it turned out, Marion made a serious choice to volunteer with the military.

During World War II, Marion joined the Navy Anchorettes, an entertainment troupe that put on shows for enlisted and wounded soldiers. For her employment, she worked at various office jobs with Chrysler and AMS Marketing. When she went on a blind date to the circus, Marion’s life took another turn when she met her future husband Richard Tucker.

Marion was married on August 2, 1947, and in her 56 years of marriage, she was blessed with four children: Carol, Barb, Rich (Kristie) and Jean (Tim). Her grandchildren—Larry (Monique), and Dawn—lit up her life, as did her great-grandchildren, Micalah, Halee, Max, Makenzi, Mandi and Mitchell.

It always thrilled Marion to have her whole family around her, especially during Christmas with its glistening lights and festive decorations. For many years, she took a page out of her mother’s holiday book and made hot fudge and nut bread for family and friends at Christmastime. In May of 2005, celebrations hit the top of the charts when Marion went on a cruise with her beloved family.

At home, Marion liked to watch University of Michigan football, Tiger baseball and game shows, made all the better if she could treat herself to a Sanders Hot Fudge sundae. Interestingly, Marion didn’t like going to movie theaters, because she would fall asleep soon after the movie started and never got her money’s worth. Instead, she kept active playing cards or telling jokes. By all accounts, she was a good standup comic.

Marion Tucker died Tuesday, July 30, 2013 at Botsford Hospital in Farmington Hills, Michigan at the age of 91. She loved her four children, adored her two grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. She cherished her siblings and many friends and was inseparable from her daytime companion, Buddy the cat.