Anna Lee Rucker

Anna Lee graduated from Hondo High School in 1945. She then went on to get her Bachelor of Arts at Baylor University in Waco, Texas in 1953 and her Master of Education degree from The University of Houston in 1968. She was employed by the Pasadena School District for forty plus years. During that time she taught 5th grade. She loved working with her students and peers.

In addition to her teaching profession, Anna Lee had many diverse interests. When she was in high school she developed a love for Boogie Woogie music. She taught herself how to play her beloved music on the piano. She never took lessons or learned how to read music, she did it all by ear. Some of her friends said they remember hearing her play the piano in the high school gym during lunch breaks and she would draw quite a crowd. At Braden family Thanksgivings she and Ronnie Shaw would take turns playing the piano for our entertainment. It was definitely the highlight of the day! She continued playing up until a few years ago.

She also took up golfing, sculpting(and became quite good at it),writing poems and short stories. She entered some of her poems and short stories in competitions and won several awards or monetary prizes.

Anna Lee never married or had children of her own but she was an avid dog lover. She said she never had a dog or any type of pet as a child but was seldom without one as an adult. She fell in love with the breed of Cairn Terriers. She was instrumental in helping to start or promote the showing of dogs in dog shows around parts of Texas. Her dogs won many awards and trophies. She also bred them and at times had several of her “babies” to keep her busy.

Anna Lee moved back to her hometown of Hondo in 2015 after retiring from teaching. She still had an appetite for trying new things. She learned how to shoot targets with a pistol. She didn’t master it but she had to give it a try. She loved feeding the birds in the backyard and if a stray cat showed up it certainly didn’t go hungry. She always had a story to tell with a grin on her face.

Anna Lee was the eighth of ten children. She was preceded in death by her sisters Winnie Mae (G.O.) Braden, Ruth (Taylor) Bunting, brothers B.C.(Mary Alice) Rucker, Frank(Alta) Rucker, Hugh Rucker, Monroe(Myra) Rucker, George(Dorotha) Rucker and brother’s in law Bobby Heiligman, and Wilbur Wilson.

She is survived by her sisters Mary Emma Heiligman of Hondo and Mona Wilson of Pearsall.

She had many nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews that always enjoyed spending time with her. It was never a dull moment.

Anna Lee’s wishes were to “be buried without fanfare” so there will be no service.

She may be gone but she will never be forgotten!!!!!!