Susan Ellen Tucker

Susan Ellen Martin Tucker, age 81, of Windsor California, passed away late October from Alzheimer's disease. Sue was born February 1943 to parents Vivian and Jack Martin in Sacramento, California and grew up in Oakland, California.

Sue lived an extraordinary life of love, adventure, and professional accomplishments. After graduating from the Kaiser Foundation School of Nursing in 1964, she began her career as a staff nurse at Oakland Hospital, followed by 3 years as a Peace Corps volunteer nurse in Medellin, Colombia, South America. It was during her Peace Corps training that she met Thomas Lawrence Tucker, whom she later married in 1971. She continued her career and education obtaining her Bachelor's of Science in Nursing from the University of Pennsylvania and ultimately her Master's of Science in Nursing from CSU Dominguez Hills, and went on to hold various nursing positions that led to teaching and ultimately hospital administration. In her final career position she served as Director of Patient Care Services for Kaiser Hospital in Walnut Creek, CA.

Sue was an accomplished author and world traveler. In 1974, under contract with publisher Mosby, Sue became the coordinating author of "Patient Care Standards" touted as the "grandfather" of books on nursing care plans, which went on to have 7 editions. Her other publications as author or co-author included Clinic Nursing, Fetal Monitoring, and the Pocket Guide to Fetal Monitoring published in multiple languages and sold worldwide. Her passion for supporting nurses and patients led toteaching engagements around the United States, Soviet Union, Thailand, Hong Kong, and Romania.

Sue is survived by her husband of 53 years, Thomas Lawrence "Larry" Tucker, her daughter Karrie Stewart, daughter Jill Tucker and husband Roger Tucker, grandchildren Max, Kyle, Erika, and Charlotte, and siblings Maureen Meyer and Greg Martin. Sue and Larry had great adventures traveling the globe right up to a final trip around the Panama Canal when her health reached a state where she could travel no more.

Sue was much loved by her friends and family and is remembered for her fantastic sense of humor, quick wit, and unconditional love. Family and friends will be notified of memorial arrangements privately.