Jacquelyn Meredith Tucker

AIKEN - Jacquelyn Meredith Tucker of Aiken, South Carolina passed away peacefully on November 26, 2011. Jackie, as she was best known, was born on July 17, 1943, in Peoria, Illinois, as the first of two children to now deceased parents, Wayne G. and Vangine Sieks Meredith. Jackie’s first dog was named Tucker which was an omen of things to come. Jackie attended Richwoods High School in Peoria where she enjoyed being a cheerleader and was a member of Richwood’s first graduating class in 1961. She attended Bradley University in pursuit of a teaching degree, where she was also a member of the Marionette dance team. A year later, she attended the University of Tennessee and pledged the Sigma Kappa Sorority. At UT, Jackie met the love of her life John (J. C.) Tucker and chose to fulfill her dream as a loving wife and full-time homemaker. Jackie and J. C. were married on December 22, 1963, at the First Methodist Church in Peoria, Illinois . Jackie is survived by her husband, John (J. C.) Tucker of Aiken, South Carolina, a sister, Jeri Schoenthal of Maricopa, Arizona, a brother-in-law, Dr. George Tucker (Tami Batty) of San Juan Capistrano, California, three children, seven grandchildren, four nieces and one nephew. Her children are Janelle E. Pitzo (Tom) Gurnee, Illinois, Joel W. Tucker(Lynn Hochstetler) St. Charles, Illinois and Jeff C. Tucker (Anne Dierks) Houston, Texas. Grandchildren are Corey, Caroline and Christina Pitzo of Gurnee, Illinois, Mason and Reilly Tucker of St. Charles, Illinois and Crockett and Brooks Tucker of Houston, Texas. Jackie was dedicated to her family and devoted her life to supporting them. She was a true sports fan and loved watching the Chicago Bears, St. Louis Cardinals, and Tennessee Volunteers. Jackie enjoyed keeping physically fit and was an avid gardener. Her unique plants and flowers were the envy of the neighborhood. Her other interests included Bridge, Mahjong, interior decorating, and sewing. Her beautiful sewing projects included draperies and pillows, doll clothes, girl’s dresses, and men’s shirts and sport coats. Jackie’s crowning sewing project was the gorgeous wedding dress that she crafted for her daughter, Janelle. A Memorial Service will be held at 2:00 PM Friday at Shellhouse Funeral Home with the Reverend Dr. Rodney K. Powell officiating. The family has requested memorials, in Jackie’s honor, be made to Stand Up To Cancer File 1224, 1801 W. Olympic Boulevard, Pasadena, CA 91199-1224, or the Savannah River Cancer Foundation, P.O. Box 3694, Aiken, SC 29802. SHELLHOUSE FUNERAL HOME, INC., 924 HAYNE AVE., AIKEN, SC To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Jacquelyn Meredith Tucker, please visit our flower store.