Bessie Marie Tucker was born on May 12, 1930 in a rural setting near Alamota in Lane County, Kansas. She was born to Ward and Rose (Norton) Morehead in a small family home originally built by her uncle. Bess was one of four sisters. As her family dealt with the struggles of the Kansas Dust Bowl and the Great Depression, they moved back and forth from Kansas to Colorado looking for ways to better their circumstances. She graduated from High School in Hotchkiss, Colorado and then attended Western State College in Gunnison on an academic scholarship.
It was in college where she met her future husband, Raymond Tucker, whom she married in 1952. He became a college professor, and they spent 8 years in Macomb, Illinois, and over 30 years in Bowling Green, Ohio. They had three daughters, Deanna Greene, Myrna Tucker, and Leslie Tucker. In 1999 Ray and Bess moved to the Houston area to be closer to the children and grandchildren. After more than 50 years of marriage, Ray passed away in 2007.
Through her friends at church, Bess was blessed with a wonderful companion, Ed Schwar, whom she married in 2011. Ed was another artist, and they shared many good times until his passing in 2017.
Though she taught school for a few years after college, Bess was an artist at heart. She returned to college in her 40’s to take art classes where she began to flourish as an artist. Bess’s work was accepted at many juried shows, including Liturgical shows. She had the honor of winning “Best of Show” for an entry in Toledo where another of her pieces was displayed in the Toledo Museum of Art. She also was an art teacher for 26 years with a following of many devoted students. Her last show was just over two weeks ago!
Bess was also involved in her beloved church, St. Mark’s Lutheran in Bowling Green. There she taught Sunday School, served on the Church Council, designed a large banner, and led the renovation committee.
She is preceded in death by her parents and her sisters, Francis Stanley, Tressa Newmann and Jane Huxman, all from Kansas. Her family legacy is multiple grandchildren and great grandchildren with whom she instilled a love for art and the beauty in nature.
In lieu of flowers you are welcome to make a donation in her memory to MD Anderson Cancer Center at: https://www.mdanderson.org/donors-volunteers/donate.html Please enter on Tribute Form: Myrna Tucker 2 Ten Acre Walk, Missouri City, TX 77459 for notification
The Visitation will begin at 10:30 a.m. followed by a Funeral service at 11:00 a.m. at The Southminster Presbyterian Church 2310 Brightwater Dr, Missouri City, TX 77459 on Friday, June 2, 2023. A reception will follow at the church. The Committal service will be at Morton Cemetery 401 N. 2nd Street Richmond, TX 77469 at 1:30 p.m.
