Rita Gay Hart Tuck

Rita Gay (Hart) Tuck, of Sierra Vista, AZ, formally of Abbeville, SC., passed away Jan. 16, 2011, at Sierra Vista Regional Health Center. Rita was a loving mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend to all who were fortunate to know her. Born Feb. 16, 1937, in Argyle, NY to Ray and Lorene (Lewis) Hart and raised in Argyle, New York, Rita graduated from nursing school, in Troy, in 1957. It was at Troy that she met and later married Ronald K. 'Buddy' Tuck, a member of the U.S. Air Force. Being an Air Force spouse, Rita found herself moving from Rome, NY to such places as Cape Canaveral FL, Goldsboro NC, the Philippines, Biloxi, MS., Germany, and Chicopee, MA. Upon retirement from US Air Force, Rita and the family settled in the Cedar Springs Community in Bradley, SC, where her husband had grown up. Rita resumed her nursing career, teaching nursing at Lander College and working at the Greenwood Nursing Home and Abbeville Hospital for many years. Rita was active in the Order of the Eastern Star, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Women's Auxiliary, the American Legion , the Cedar Springs Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church, in Bradley, SC, Faith Presbyterian Church, in Sierra Vista, AZ, and loved to spend time at the Ethel Berger Center, in Sierra Vista playing bingo and dominos with her new Sierra Vista friends. Preceding her in death are her husband, Ronald 'Buddy', her parents Ray and Lorene Hart, and her son, Rusty Tuck. Rita is survived by her children Cyndi (Jim) Ward, of Sierra Vista, AZ, Bob (Lisa) Tuck, of Warner Robins, GA, and Susan (Raymond) Tuck, of Minneapolis, MN. She is also survived by siblings Mike Hart, of Argyle, NY, Joan Hart Williams of Hudson Falls, NY, and Marilyn (Fred) Hart Shaw, of Whitehall, NY. Rita is also survived by five grandchildren, including Sarah Tuck, who is attending the Savannah College of Art & Design in Savannah, GA, Chris Tuck, who is attending the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, Fallon Boyle, who is attending the University of Puget Sound, in Tacoma, WA, Jarrod Ward, who is attending Arizona State University, in Tempe, AZ, and Alasdair Boyle, of Minneapolis, MN, and numerous nephews and nieces. A memorial celebration will be held at Faith Presbyterian Church, Jan. 23, at 2 p.m., with a reception to follow. Funeral services will be held at Cedar Springs Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church, Feb. 12, at 11 a.m. A memorial service in Argyle, NY is planned for this summer. In lieu of flowers Rita asks that donations be made in her name to Cedar Springs Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church or Faith Presbyterian Church. HARRIS FUNERAL HOME & CREMATION SERVICES of Abbeville is assisting the Tuck family.