Douglas Graham Tucker

Douglas Graham Tucker, 91, of the Kirksey community passed away at his home Tuesday, April 18th. He was born September 16, 1931, in Detroit, Michigan to Brown Coy Tucker and Barbara Elaine (Feezor) Tucker who both preceded him in death.

 As a young boy, he lived at Selfridge Field Military Base in Michigan until August 1941 when due to World War II, he was sent to live with his grandparents, Guy and Bethel Feezor in Paducah, KY. From 1942 thru 1944, Douglas attended Sheehan Bridge School, a 1 room school in Paducah. In the fall of 1943, his father returned from action in New Guinea and the family moved to a farm west of Kirksey, named Clear Creek Farms. Douglas joined the Naval Reserve V-6 program in 1949 for a short stint, before being discharged honorably.

In 1950, Douglas graduated from Kirksey High School and married his high school sweetheart, Mary Evelyn Doores on July 2, 1950. During their 69 years of marriage, Douglas and Evelyn were an inseparable team working side by side on Clear Valley Farm with successful dairy and beef cattle, tobacco and poultry operations.

In the fall of 1950, Douglas entered Murray State College, graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture. Over the following years, he continued his education at Murray State earning a Master’s Degree in Education in 1972 and Rank I in 1976. While attending Murray State, Douglas began to teach school while maintaining a Grade A Jersey Dairy herd. . .milking twice per day. Additionally, he taught a class of Veterans in special farm classes at Almo.

 In the fall of 1957, he was hired by the Calloway County School System to teach history at Almo High School. In the years that followed, Douglas was offered a teaching position at the new consolidated high school in Calloway County where he continued to teach for 35 years. During those years, he often encountered 3 generations of students in the same family and was known far and wide as “Mr Tucker” across Calloway County. He loved and enjoyed his years of teaching, especially when he could influence the lives of his many students. Douglas particularly enjoyed his freshman General Science class where he developed an innovative method of teaching science with storytelling to hold the student’s attention. Even today, many Calloway County adults remember a science story that Mr. Tucker told in class.

During his teaching career, Douglas was honored to have the annual dedicated to him, not just once, but twice during his career. . .in 1960 at Almo and in 1985 at Calloway County High School.

When he retired from teaching, Douglas became the first pullet grower for Seaboard Farms in Calloway County which he continued until December 2018. Douglas jointly operated a beef cattle operation, Happy Home Farms, with his son, Charles D. Tucker, MD.

Douglas undoubtedly had a full life. . .very well-lived. He was interested in politics, serving the Democratic party in Calloway County for many years. Douglas enjoyed aviation and flew his own Air Coupe in the late 60’s. He collected stamps as a child and resumed this hobby upon retirement.

His wife of 69 years, Mary Evelyn, preceded him in death in 2019. Also preceding the deceased in death were his sister, Margaret Yuill, brothers-in-law Robert McCann and Edgar Doores; and a son-in-law, Michael Smith.

Douglas is survived by the couple’s three children, Laurie Smith, Dr. Charles Tucker (Marsha), Sabrina Karraker (Ray), and one sister, Dorothy McCann Johnson all of Murray; two sisters-in-law, Anna Williams (Mark) of Ogden, Utah and Peggy Doores of Nashville, Tennessee; one brother-in-Law, Gary Yuill (Glenna) of Murray; grandchildren, Koie Smith (Jennifer) of Georgia, Barkley Charles Tucker and Mackensie Patrick (Brandon) both of Murray; great grandchildren, Colton Karraker and Paislee Patrick; as well as  five nieces and eight nephews.

The funeral service honoring Mr. Tucker will be held on Tuesday, April 25, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. at the J.H. Churchill Funeral Home and Cremation Services.  John Dale will officiate, and burial will follow in the Tucker Cemetery. A visitation will be held on Monday, April 24, 2023, from 5:00 – 8:00 p.m. at the J.H. Churchill Funeral Home and Cremation Services.

Serving as active pallbearers will be Randy Doores, Ricky Doores, Bob Roseman, Doug McCann, James McCann, and Brandon Patrick. Honorary pallbearers will be Chad Stubblefield, Gary Yuill, Bob Hargrove, Richard Price, Gary Brame, Danny Cunningham, and Jamie Potts; including his caregivers, Alma Gray, Nancy Miller, Regina Blalock, Barbara Griggs, Robin Shelton, Lottie Futrell, Violet Sittinger, and Louise Haley.

Expressions of sympathy can be made to the Tucker Cemetery Fund, % Vanessa Fike, 244 Backusburg Road, Kirksey, Kentucky 42054.

Online condolences can be made at www.thejhchurchillfuneralhome.com