Norma J Tucker

Norma Jean Tucker, 88, of Overland Park, KS, formerly of Denver and Grand Lake CO, died peacefully on January 29, 2017. She was born November 15, 1928 in Hugoton, KS to Stella (Ragan) and Walter Hunsinger. Growing up in Moscow Kansas, Norma loved to read, ride horses and play the piano. She was a graduate of the University of Kansas earning a BA in Journalism class of 1950. While at KU, she met and married Millard Crary Spencer. While he finished medical school, she worked at the Lawrence Journal World and as independent reporter covering the big flood of 1951. The couple spent four years of military service in Germany during the mid 1950’s after which they settled and raised their family in Liberal, KS. During this time, Norma was the organist and choir director at the Episcopalian church and active in many social and political party functions. Divorced in 1967, Norma went back to work holding several administrative positions and later moved to Denver where she became Office Manager at Anadarko. She married again for several years to Gene Tucker. Always an eager traveler and physical enthusiast, she absolutely loved the Rocky Mountains and later retired to Soda Springs Ranch in Grand Lake, CO where she skied, biked, hiked and rode horses again. During this time she became a real-estate broker and played jazz piano most weekends at a local restaurant. Winter in the Rockies meant skiing with many fine friends in the “SkiMeisters” group and working the slopes as a volunteer for competitive events. Summer meant hiking mountain trails and she made her way to the top of most of the peaks. Norma is survived by her daughter & daughter-in-law Deborah L. Spencer & Susan H. Davis, their children, Jessica Davis, Suzy & Sonney Sapra and their children along with her son Steven M. Spencer and his children, Shelby & Connor Spencer. She is also survived by her sister Shirley (Hunsinger) Skiver and her children. A Remembrance Tea will be held at 2pm Sunday February 19 at the Tallgrass Creek Assisted Living facility. Another memorial will be held in Colorado at a later date. Norma was a life-time member of the KU Alumni Assn and active supporter/participant in many of the KU Continuing Education programs. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the University of Kansas Endowment Assn or your favorite educational association. Rock Chalk! Send to KU Endowment, P.O. Box 928, Lawrence, KS 66044 or give online at www.kuendowment.org/givenow