Mary Margaret Tucker

TUCKER, Mary Margaret nee Cook -- A lifelong resident (except for a brief, mid-1920s stay in Nevada) of the greater San Francisco and Monterey Bay area, died from complications related to esophageal cancer, at her home in Watsonville, CA, at about 1:45 a.m. Sunday, August 31st, 2003. Her daughter, Sharon Spellman, (aka Gordon) and her grandson, Thomas Spellman (aka Milner) were both with her at time of death. Funeral services have been previously held on September 12, 2003 at OAK HILL FUNERAL HOME. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to your local Wild Life Rescue or Restoration organization to Hospice, or to another charity of your choosing. Born the only daughter of Earl Roy and Margaret Cook nee Storey, in Oakland, CA, on May 7th, 1923, and baptized at Oakland's St. Francis de Sales, Mary Margaret (called Midge by many of her closest friends) moved to San Jose in 1932, with her now-deceased mother and brother, Margaret and Francis Cook, respectively. During her 60 years of residence in Santa Clara Valley, Mary Margaret was employed for 47 years of her life in a variety of Santa Clara Valley businesses. When about 15 years old, (about 1938) one of the first places Mary Margaret was employed, was at a coffee and sandwich shop, "with a pin-ball machine in the corner," located next to where the main San Jose City Library currently stands, and across from the old Hotel St. Claire, at San Carlos and Market streets. A few years later, after turning down an opportunity to embark on a professional roller-skating exhibition tour of Europe, and after completing courses at Healds Business College, Mary Margaret became employed by a number of other Santa Clara County businesses. As a young working mother, Mary Margaret worked in the offices of the Rosicrucians; Western Electric Company; International Paper Company; New York Life Insurance Company; and Memorex. At various other periods of her working life, Mary Margaret owned her own dry-cleaning business, was an office manager for Ann Darling Bowl, was a saleswoman for Sarah Coventry Jewelry, and, during WWII, worked briefly at a Moffett Field-based dry cleaners, where she once got to meet actor Jimmy Stewart, when he came in to claim his Army uniform. Mary Margaret retired from her most recent employer, Edwards Wood Products, in about 1993, shortly after moving to Watsonville, in about 1991. Besides her brief, childless, late-in-life marriage to Mr. Robert Tucker, Mary Margaret was also married twice before: First, for about 5 years, to Patrick Dominick Spellman, a current resident of Escondido, California, and then to now-deceased Robert Raymond Gordon, for about 30 years. Mary Margaret is survived by her three children: Sharon Kathleen nee Spellman (aka nee Gordon), resident of Nevada City, CA; Robert Michael Gordon, resident of Watsonville, CA; and Charles Victor Gordon, III, a resident of Kalispell, Montana. Mary Margaret is also survived by her four grandchildren: Corey Heller nee Spellman, Thomas Spellman (aka Milner), Steven Gordon, and Stacy Gordon. Mary's great grandchildren are Jenna, Alex, Tyler and Grace Ann Gordon; and Patrick and Christoph Heller. In addition to her love, care for, and support of her family, friends and pets, some of Mary Margaret's other interests and hobbies included, over her life-time, square-dancing, bowling, golfing, leather-work, ceramics, sewing, gardening, cross-word-puzzles, and membership in the fraternal/social organizations, N.D.G.W., Vendome Parlor, and in the Kappa Mu Chapter of Epsilon Sigma Alpha. Inurnment at Oak Hill Memorial Park, 300 Curtner Ave., in San Jose.