Obituary of Adeline A. Tucker

Adeline Tucker 96, passed away surrounded by her loving family at home on August 30 2018 from Dementia.

Adeline was born in Gustine, CA. on November 5, 1921 at home on her family’s dairy farm to Francisco Machado Castro and Gertrude Garcia Valladao. Adeline was the 7th child in the family of 8 where she and her brothers and sisters loved to play on the farm with their many animals. Adeline attended elementary school in Gustine. Adeline’s parents retired and moved the family to Santa Cruz in 1936 where they enjoyed the cooler climate. Adeline graduated from Santa Cruz High School in 1940 and went on to beauty school in San Jose and obtained her cosmetology license and soon became a hair stylist in the early 1940’s. She continued to renew her license every year until recently.

Adeline met the man of her dreams at a dance at the Coconut Grove in 1943 when the Coast Guard came to town. That man, Ray Tucker, swept her off her feet and they married on October 21, 1945. They soon moved to Ray’s home town Little Rock, Arkansas so Ray could work with his dad and brother in the hardwood floor business. They always wanted to come back to Santa Cruz and start their own business, Ray Tucker Hardwood Floors which they did in 1949.

Adeline worked as the bookkeeper for the business the next 37 years until Ray’s retirement in 1986.

Adeline cherished her time as an artist. She enjoyed painting and framing her works of art since the 1950’s when she took classes from Ralph Gray. Adeline loved to have large family gatherings where she loved to cook Cioppino and many other dishes and desserts from scratch. Adeline and Ray’s first piece of furniture was a brand new Singer sewing machine. She made all her clothes, children’s clothes, curtains, table clothes and more.

Adeline was on the Board of Directors for the Miss California Pageant and worked with the Dominican Hospital Foundation Board on fundraising.

Adeline loved her family and is survived by her sons, Tom Tucker (Mary) and Tim Tucker of Santa Cruz; daughter, Toni Castro of Capitola; grandchildren, Marc Tucker (Sonia) and Tracie Tucker both of Santa Cruz; Brian Tucker of Brooklyn, NY and Jody Tucker of Aptos; great grandchildren, Alex Ray Tucker, Jason Tucker, Marina Tucker all of Santa Cruz and Victoria Acosta of Aptos; She is also survived by her brother, Joe Castro (Ada) of Santa Cruz, her best friend of 80 years, Helen Belli Therkleson of Rescue, CA and several nieces and nephews. Adeline was preceded in death by her husband Ray Tucker in 1997, her son-in-law Alan Castro in 2009, her five sisters, her brother and her parents.

A funeral service will be held on Friday, September 14, 2018 at Benito & Azzaro Pacific Gardens Chapel, 1050 Cayuga St, Santa Cruz at 11:00 am with a reception following at Star of the Sea Church parish hall, 515 Frederick St, Santa Cruz. A private interment will take place at Holy Cross Cemetery.

The family would like to thank Adeline’s wonderful caregivers from Visiting Angels, especially Soledad Guitterez and Hospice of Santa Cruz. They took such good care of Adeline. If you would like to make a donation in Adeline’s name to Hospice of Santa Cruz, 940 Disc Dr, Scotts Valley, CA 95066 or Visiting Angels, 5274 Scotts Valley Dr, Scotts Valley, CA 95066 please do so.