Charlotte A. Tucker, age 91, died Tuesday morning April 28, 2026.

She was born on September 27, 1934 to parents Okie and Agnes Heard and was the sixth child of seven. Her parents were farmers in Iowa and life on the farm taught her determination, resilience, a love of nature and how to work hard. Even as a young girl she had chores like gathering eggs. She talked lovingly about the farm cat named Scamp and work horses Blackie and Babe. She grew up in a loving family and Charlotte’s children have the fun memory of  her laughing with her sisters so hard that they peed their pants.

She married William Eugene Tucker at the age of 19, they were living in Minnesota at that time and had twin daughters.  Bill was stationed in Korea during the Korean War and when he returned the family moved from farm country to the wilds of northern Minnesota along the shore of Lake Superior. Living in the small town of Silver Bay, the family grew with more children, two sons and another daughter.  It was a wonderful place to raise kids and the family embraced the lifestyle and enjoyed many outdoor activities like camping, fishing, ice skating and sledding. In those days the children were set free like dandelions in the wind to ride bikes or explore the woods. The children survived childhood despite no seat belts or helmets. Charlotte was a wonderful mother; she read stories aloud, sewed clothes and knitted mittens and socks so they would all stay warm in the Minnesota winters and baked yummy treats. They lived in Silver Bay for eleven years before moving to the country near Two Harbors, Minnesota. Charlotte was determined that their daughters could get their wish of having horses. Life in the country was full of animals and adventures.

Fiercely independent, Charlotte was determined to make her own way, she worked part-time to put herself through nursing school, becoming an LPN, then an RN. When her youngest daughter graduated high school and moved to Texas, she left her husband (they didn’t divorce for years) to work in the nursing field in Texas. There she studied further and became a Family Nurse Practitioner. She worked there and also in Missouri and North Carolina but ended up back in Texas practicing at a clinic in McCamey, Texas. She was beloved by her many patients. Hiking in the nearby mountain area with her good friend Rose searching for fossils was a favorite activity.  She traveled extensively to visit her children, spread around the country in Texas, Minnesota, Washington and North Carolina, flying or driving herself in her beloved Cadillacs. She enjoyed working and helping people and retired at 75 but continued to work part time. She built her dream home in Two Harbors Minnesota along a hiking trail so she could keep up with her daily walks. Working part-time in Texas in the winters was brilliant, escaping most of the Minnesota winter and spending time with a daughter in Texas, then spending the glorious summers in Minnesota with grandchildren and great grandchildren. She worked part-time until she was 80. Minnesota winters were no trouble for her though after she retired…she was Minnesota tough and shoveled her own driveway and sidewalk for several years, but later when she needed more help, her son, Mark and daughter-in-law, Karen were nearby and she enjoyed family gatherings and attending sporting and other events her great grandchildren were participating in.

Charlotte loved her beautiful home, coffee with “something sweet”, hiking, the ocean, gardening, knitting, quilting, “debating” politics, Twins Baseball, and most of all she loved her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. She also loved a cat, Matea and a dog, Jack.

When Charlotte was 88 years of age, needing assistance but insisting she could take care of herself, she moved in with her daughter, Jo, in Huntersville, North Carolina. She kept up her walking everyday and enjoyed life in the country again. One of her favorite things was reading and she liked to read aloud to an  African Grey parrot named Graffitti, so much so that Graffitti started calling Charlotte “Book”.  She enjoyed this time getting together with her twins to go out for lunch, shopping and visiting parks.  After a couple years spent living between  North Carolina and Minnesota, she moved to an assisted living care facility in Salisbury, NC. She lived there almost a year before moving to memory care, several months later she passed away. She is sadly missed by her children and all who knew her. She made the world a better place and we all miss her feistiness.

Charlotte is survived by her daughter Jane Tucker Bailey (William), daughter JoAnn Rissanen, son Mike Tucker, son Mark Tucker (Karen), daughter Diane Tangen (Tim), grandchildren Shannon (Tucker) Rothe (Tim), and Steven Tucker (Jenny) and great grandchildren Reagan Rothe, Ella Rothe, Lorretta Tucker, Ford Tucker, sister Margaret Kirchner, brother Jerry Heard and sister Dorothy Drinkel and nieces and nephews. She is also survived by her ex-husband and childrens father William E. Tucker.

Please honor her memory by making a donation to the Alzheimer’s Association to help fund research to develop a cure for this tragic disease.

Carolina Cremation is assisting the Tucker family. Online condolences may be made at www.carolinacremation.com.