Colonel George Grady Tucker, JR passed away peacefully in his home in Fairhope, AL on July 14, 2025. He was born on August 11, 1927, in Hartford, AL to Margaret (nee Waits) and George Grady Tucker, SR. He spent his long life in service to his family, friends and country. As an oldest child, he developed a strong sense of duty and devotion to all he loved when his father passed away when he was six. He was very protective of his mother & little brother thereafter. A few years later, he was blessed to have his stepfather, Hansford Jackson, come into his life. He was also blessed to have a new brother and sister Gordon and Dorothy from his mother’s marriage to Hansford. He was devoted to all his family. He quietly looked after everyone he loved who needed anything including family and friends and others who needed help. He was extremely intelligent with a quick and mischievous wit. He left a smile on everyone’s face. When he had that twinkle in his eye you knew he was up to something or was going to say something hilarious. He began his 26-year military career when he left school at 17 to join the Navy. He still graduated with his class from Paxton High. When he left the Navy, he married our mother Annette Marrell and attended the University of Florida to receive his B.S. in Mathematics. He did all this as an Army ROTC cadet, with a wife and a new son & various odd jobs such as maintenance man at the married student apartments (pulling lots of diapers out of toilets) & as a pool hustler at the local pool hall. Upon graduation he was commissioned in the US Army. In the 26 years he was in the Army he moved his family to many duty stations and several hardship tours without them. Amongst his many accomplishments in the Army were 2 tours in Korea, 2 tours in Viet Nam, visits to Europe for NATO while stationed at the Pentagon, Head of Army Research and Development at Duke University and his final tour before retirement in “God’s Country” Auburn university as Professor of Military Science for the Army. Grady would certainly laugh and say oh, no that would Gainesville, Fl, the home of his beloved Florida Gators. One of his proud moments was facilitating the acceptance of women into Auburn’s Army ROTC program and his champion Pershing Rifle group. Also, in his career he received his MS in Electrical Engineering from Georgia Tech. As an Air Defense Artillery officer, he was instrumental in developing both the HERCULES Surface to Air Missile System and the Patriot Missile System. After retirement he spent many wonderful years in his place in the country with our beloved Mother Annette. He finished raising his last two children that were still at home, grew lots of delicious vegetables, gardened with his wife making a breathtaking landscape on their acreage. Annette passed away and he married his second wife Phylis who has also passed away. He spent lots of time at reunions with his beloved fellow members of the 61st Battalion of the 1st Calvary which served with him in Korea. Over the years his children participated, got to know these fine men and their families. We know why they were so important to him. ‘Sta Bueno (It is Good) Over the last few months his children have had lots of good times with him laughing and listening to his many stories, some we’d heard before, but never tired of, and some new. Two of the many gifts the lord gave to him were his storytelling skill & his genuine sense of humility. Most people would not hear a whole lot about his many accomplishments. He was always more interested in their stories and making them laugh & feel comfortable. Grady is predeceased by his Mother Margaret Waits Jackson, Father George Grady Tucker, Sr, Stepfather Hansford G Jackson , wife Annette Marrell Tucker, wife Phylis Tucker, brothers William Graham Tucker & Gordon Jackson, sister Dorothy Strag & son Gary William Tucker He is survived by his children: Son George Grady Tucker III & wife Leeon Ann Tucker, daughter Suzanne Tucker Napier & husband Robert Alex Napier & son Gordon David Tucker & wife Susan Farmer Tucker, Grandchildren: George Grady Tucker IV & wife Marsha Tucker, Robert Tucker Napier, Jessica Marrell Law & husband Matthew Joseph Law, Great-Grandchildren: Rebecca Jade Israel & husband Christopher Israel & Mattelyn Elise Law, Great-Great-Grandchildren: Grayson Alexander Israel & Jade Jordyn Israel.
In lieu of Flowers, Grady wanted donations for: Tunnels to Towers (T2Td.ORG) and St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital (stjude.org)
Funeral services with full military honors for Colonel George Grady Tucker, JR will be 11AM Saturday July 26, 2025at Evans Funeral Home with Chris Davenport officiating. Visitation will be 1 hour before services. Interment will be in Paxton Cemetery.
Please join us in remembering Colonel George Grady Tucker, JR by visiting our Memorial at evansfuneralhomeal.com. Through this site we invite you to share your thoughts and fond memories with our family.
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