Vearl Ray Tucker

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Vearl Ray Tucker, age 91, of Mt. Emmons was surrounded by family as he peacefully returned to his Heavenly Father and his beautiful wife on January 11, 2026.

He was born on September 5, 1934, in Cleveland, Utah, to Vearl Dee Tucker and Emma Loa Ward. He was a miracle baby with a fighting spirit. He was six weeks premature and only weighed three and a half pounds at birth. He was the oldest of 4 siblings and grew up working on the family farm. Here he learned his determined work ethic and created memories with his two brothers, Robert and Jared and his sister Sheila. He served a full-time honorable mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Northern States Mission and was introduced to his eternal companion, Grace Jacquiline (Jackie) Willard, by her Bishop while he was there. After his mission he returned to ask for her hand in marriage, but she turned him down and told him to go back to Utah. Not one to be deterred, he persisted and finally won her over.

1959 was a busy year for Vearl as he and Jackie were married on June 18, in the Logan Utah Temple. He received his officer's commission shortly thereafter, and then his orders for active duty were changed from Fort Leonard Wood Missouri to Bamburg, Germany. Vearl and Jackie moved their little family to Germany where he served in active duty in the Army. They then returned and made their home briefly in Logan, Utah, then they moved to Mt. Emmons in 1963 where they would make a home and immerse themselves thoroughly in the community.

Vearl taught at Altamont High School for 25 years. He was an amazing builder and artist. He taught Woodshop, Metal Shop, Vocational Agriculture, Art and Drafting. He always had some sort of project at home that kept his children entertained and allowed them to create things with him from leather work and glass beads to painting and carving. After he retired from teaching, he took to the road as a school bus driver, coach, and score keeper. He also continued to support his family by driving tanker truck, milk truck and dump truck. He could drive anything with wheels or tracks. He was also an EMT and Volunteer firefighter for the Upper Country for 30 years. He continued to serve his country in the National Guard for 36 years and was the Company Commander of the 1457th Engineer Battalion in Vernal, Utah.

Vearl and Jackie served two missions; one as CES Missionaries in the Singapore Mission, serving in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia, and one as stay-at-home missionaries. They were also ordinance workers in the Provo and Vernal Temples, a calling that was a “dream job”. Their marriage of 65 years was a milestone that not many couples reach and they achieved this with patience, long suffering, a sense of humor and a short memory.

Vearl’s legacy lives on through his children, Sandy (Randy) Bywater, Upalco; Janae (Bryant) Austin, Mapleton; Julie (Kaye) Seeley, Bluebell; Angie (Scott) Ellingford, Evanston, WY; Vearl Gene “Vege” (Dawn) Tucker, Vernal; Bill (Amie) Tucker, Gunnison; Patty (Brian) Weaver, Orem; 30 grandchildren, 28 great-grandchildren, and 8 great-great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his loving wife, Jackie Tucker, his grandson, Jason Bywater; his parents and his brother Jared Tucker.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, January 17, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at the Altamont Stake Center. There will be a viewing at the church on Friday from 6-8 p.m. and on Saturday from 9:30-10:45 a.m.

Burial will be in the Altamont Cemetery with military honors presented by the Army Honor Guard, Altamont American Legion and the Patriot Guard Riders..