MULBERRY — John Oscar “JO” Tucker,
85, of Mulberry, passed away Monday, Jan. 11, 2021, in Fort Smith. He was born June 24, 1935, in Muleshoe, Texas, to Arthur F. and Della Brumfield Tucker. JO worked for AT&T and Southwestern Bell throughout Arkansas in the ‘60s through the ‘80s. He called Farmington, Pine Bluff, Van Buren, Hot Springs, and Lowell home during those years. After retirement from Southwestern Bell in 1989, he worked for Contel and AllTel in northwest Arkansas. When he finally retired from the phone business, he and Novelene traveled across the United States, making friends wherever they went.
JO enjoyed all things outdoors, and his greatest joy came from sharing that love with his children, grandchildren and siblings. He loved working with cattle and spent many happy hours in the fields on his Gator or taking children for rides on his tractor. Many memories were made under a tree beside a lake, teaching the latest addition to the Tucker clan how to fish and call the Hogs. And how he loved his Razorbacks! He was a firm believer in the blessedness of family. He attended every family or school reunion he could and entertained everyone with reminisces of growing up in Northwest Arkansas. He never met a child he didn’t immediately love and made each feel precious, whether they carried his blood or not.
JO’s life was cut short by the COVID-19 virus. Although he had several health problems in his later years, he endured, and continued to live his life fully. His steadfast strength, compassion, generosity and affection will be terribly missed by all who loved him.
He was preceded in death by his first love and wife of 40 years, Novelene Alsip Tucker; a son, Charles Thomas Tucker; his parents; three sisters; and two brothers. He is survived by his second love and wife of 10 ½ years, Linda Cagle Tucker of Mulberry; three children, Kathy Tucker Cheyne of Broken Arrow, Julie Tucker of Fayetteville, and John K. Tucker of Killeen, Texas; a brother, Jack Tucker of Decatur, Texas; five grandchildren, Jason Neidecker of Slidell, La., Mandy Cox Berry of Fayetteville, Brooka Blount of Arkansas, Kevin Cheyne of Muskogee, and Morgan Cheyne of Liberty, Mo.; seven great-grandchildren, Kaitlyn and Kassidy Neidecker of Pocahontas, RJ, Keziah and Isaiah Blount of Massachusetts, Cyrus Berry of Fayetteville, and Lincoln “LT” Cheyne of Muskogee; many cherished nieces and nephews; and numerous treasured stepchildren, step-grandchildren and step-great-grandchildren.
A celebration of JO’s life will be held when it is safe for family and friends to gather. Cremation is under the direction of Edwards Van-Alma Funeral Home in Van Buren. To place an online tribute, go to www.edwardsvan-alma.com.