Dr. John R. Tucker

John Robert Tucker joined his heavenly Father and the love of his life, Joyce, on July 5, 2024. Just the week before, on June 25, he celebrated his 96th birthday with his children and loyal caretakers at Golden Palms Retirement Community in Harlingen, Texas.

John was born on June 25, 1928, the son of Albert Joseph Tucker and Dorothy Louise, in Harlingen, Texas. In 1951, he married his love, Joyce Helen Davis. They welcomed four children into their family, John Madsen, Jantha Dianne, Shelton Scott, and Davis Sean. Preceding John in death were his parents, brothers Bert and Tommy, wife, Joyce and son, Shelton.

Family left to cherish his memory are son John “Tut” Tucker, Barbara Sue Tucker, Jantha Tucker, Davis Tucker and granddaughter Maddox Tucker. He loved and claimed as his own, Maudie Cox, Allison Manly and their children.

John attended and played football at Harlingen High School and was active in the Choir and Music department. After high school graduation, he attended North Texas State University in Denton, Texas, where he studied Music and sang professionally in both Opera and Broadway, traveling all over the United States. At some point, his one love, Joyce, told him he was going to have to get a “real” job if they were going to raise a family together! Back to school he went transferring to Baylor University to major in Pre-Med! Medical school followed, as well as a surprise…. little John Tucker! Joyce was an RN by then and both did all they could to get John through Medical school at UTMB where he graduated in 1959. After his Residency at John Sealy Hospital in Galveston, the family moved to Navasota, where John started his practice in medicine from 1960 to 1962. 

In 1962, the family moved home to Harlingen. In 1964, along with physicians Cecil Simmons and Bill Ross, the doctors opened San Benito Medical Associates in San Benito, later expanding to Harlingen. John became a beloved family physician to many in the Harlingen and San Benito area. He was a Board of Trustees member and chief of staff at Dolly Vinsant Hospital in San Benito. He was the family doctor for several generations of families who loved his kind, genuine concern for their family members. The family of six were all active in the First Baptist Church in Harlingen, where John’s mother also played the piano. John, a Deacon in the church, and Joyce were both a part of the music program at First Baptist Church for 40 years. John and Joyce were original longtime members of the South Texas Chorale for 13 years and John served on the Community Concert Board. John continued to be loyal to his alma mater, HHS, as a school board member (1968-1971) and President (1971). “Doc Tucker” also served as HCISD Team doctor for 12 years. John loved participating in the Men’s Bible Study with his lifelong buddy, Frank Boggus. Dr. Tucker was also instrumental in establishing the Family Practice Residency Program at Valley Baptist Health Systems, while chairman of the first department of family practice for 3 years at Valley Baptist Hospital. Other affiliations included the Board of the American Cancer Society, involvement in Hospice and Palliative Care Medicine, Pain Management and spirituality in medicine. John retired from his medical practice in 1998 at 70 years old in order to spend more time with Joyce, his wife of 57 years.

With the leisure time John found he loved the outdoors! He could be found fishing in the Laguna Madre or hunting the South Texas ranchlands. His home on the Resaca in San Benito brought him great pleasure as well as traveling while hunting big game in Colorado, New Mexico and Montana and making forever memories with his family. 

John’s family would like to sincerely thank the wonderful caretakers that cared for their father for years. We gratefully appreciate Marivel Quiroz, Rey Quiroz, Mayra Jimenez, Anna Garza, Elizbeth Buenrostro and Elizabeth Tamayo.

John will be dearly missed by so many. He was a good, kind man that God gifted with many talents.

The family requests memorial contributions to the “SOM Family Practice Residency Programs” at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Division of Institutional Advancement, 701 E. Expressway 83, Box #13, McAllen, Texas 78501. Gifts can be made online at this link: https://give.utrgv.edu/TuckerMemorial

A family visitation will be held, July 19, from 5 to 7 pm at Buck Ashcraft Funeral Home in San Benito. A private graveside service officiated by Pastor Bill Reagan and Pastor Phil Bland will be held to honor John’s memory.