Bettye Jo Tucker

Bettye Tucker of Bryant, formerly of Little Rock, passed away on March 23, 2015. Born in Bluffton, Arkansas, on January 27, 1941 to Othel and Rosie Evans Kendrick, she was the second of three children. Preceded in death by her father, Othel and her brother, Tommy, she is survived by her mother, Rosie Meridieth, her sister, Bobbie Jones (Ezell), her son, Bill Tucker, Jr. and his wife Karen, her grandchildren, Sam and Rachel, her sister-in-law, Eva Harrison, and a host of nieces, nephews, and good friends. Raised on a farm in Yell County, she grew up chopping cotton, feeding chickens, hoeing corn and working all the chores of farm life. A proud graduate of Fourche Valley High School, she moved to Benton after graduation and began the career which would define her life: first at Benton State Bank, then Worthen Bank, and finally at Metropolitan National Bank. During the early 1970s, she left Worthen Bank to open a successful florist shop, "Bettye's Flowers," but after a few years returned to her first calling and opened Metropolitan‘s first branch on Baseline Road. With no formal education past high school, she reached the pinnacle of banking in Little Rock and retired from Metropolitan Bank as Senior Vice-President for Business Development. She worked hard and treated everyone who entered the bank as if they were the only customer. It was not unusual to walk into her kitchen on the weekend and find someone's bank statements spread across the table as she balanced a neglected checking account. It was impossible to go anywhere with her without running into one of her customers, and she never passed up an opportunity to sell the bank. Though health issues forced her retirement almost twenty years ago, her customers still speak fondly of her today. She was never idle; always busy with cooking, cleaning or gardening when she wasn't working. She was multi-talented: sewing, raising a huge backyard garden, and cooking some of the best food anywhere. She was never happier than when hosting friends for dinner or just sitting and visiting over a cup of coffee. Her fresh coconut cake is still missed by everyone who had the chance to try it. Her summertime suppers with fresh vegetables from the garden were outstanding. And her tea ring, hand-rolled with pecans and a powdered-sugar glaze, will never be surpassed. Her family would like to thank everyone who helped care for her these last few years. Particularly Dr. Harold Hedges, Dr. Robert McGowan, and Nurse Kathy of Little Rock Family Practice; Dr. Victor Biton, Nurse Judy, and the staff at Arkansas Epilepsy; the staff and administration at Briarwood Rehab of Little Rock; and most especially the staff and residents of her "second family" at Fox Ridge Living of Bryant. We would also like to thank the staffs of the Emergency Department and MICU at St. Vincent's and Saline Memorial Hospice House in Bryant for helping us through this last month. Bettye was loved by many and will be missed by all, but we find peace in the knowledge that she is home at last. May her welcoming spirit and loving grace live on in those she left behind. A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, March 27, 2015 at Dial and Dudley Funeral Home in Bryant at 11:30 a.m. Visitation will be Friday, March 26, 2015 from 6-8 p.m. at the funeral home. To sign online guest book visit www.dialanddudleyfuneralhome.com.