Doyle Ray Tucker

Doyle Ray Tucker, 96, of DeRidder, Louisiana, passed away peacefully on Thursday, November 8th, at his home. Doyle was born in the Simpsonville Community of Upshur County, Texas, on September 8, 1922, to the late Samuel and Opie (Lockhart) Tucker.

Doyle accepted the Lord as his personal Lord and Savior at 16 and was ordained to serve as deacon 60 years ago. He faithfully served in churches where he was a member. Doyle married the former Yvonne Jordan on May 8, 1947. Together they had four children. He was a member of Westview Baptist Church and the DeRidder Masonic Lodge.

Doyle was raised in Simpsonville, Texas. He attended Union Hill High School in Bettie, Texas, and Kilgore Junior College, Kilgore, Texas.  He volunteered for the Army Air Force in October 1942, in Mineral Wells, Texas. He trained as a weather observer and maintained the teletype machine. His service career ended at Dugway Proving Grounds in Dugway, Utah, and he was honorably discharged as a Buck Sergeant in December 1945, in Denver, Colorado. Doyle roughnecked for Delta Gulf Drilling Company in Merryville, Louisiana, where he met Yvonne Jordan. He later drilled oil wells for Rowan Drilling in San Angelo, Texas. Moving to Gilmer in 1953, Doyle worked as a millwright at Lone Star Steel Mill, Daingerfield, Texas. As the result of a wildcat strike in 1957, he moved his family to DeRidder, Louisiana, where he learned the electrician’s trade from his brother-in-law Lum Jordan. Eventually, Doyle began his Civil Service career at Fort Polk, Louisiana, where he earned numerous awards. Doyle retired on January 2, 1988, as a General Maintenance General Foreman, grade WS-14.

Upon retirement, Gerald Johnson, mayor of DeRidder, appointed him to serve as City Electrician Inspector, and he inspected all electrical work at new building sites within the city limits of DeRidder and attended monthly board meetings with electrical contractors. Doyle always credited the Lord for closing and opening doors for his career. He enjoyed his church, family, friends, fishing, football, playing dominos and working crossword puzzles.

He is survived by his loving wife of 71 ½ years, Mrs. Yvonne Tucker of DeRidder, Louisiana; two daughters, Vonda Hodges and husband Kenneth of DeRidder, Louisiana, and Melonee Fleming and husband Danny of Spring, Texas; two grandchildren: Christopher Ray Hodges and wife Audrye, and Timothy Andrew Hodges of Winnie, Texas; three great-granddaughters: Cadence Marie Hodges and Elizabeth Rae Hodges of Lake Arthur, Louisiana, and Charlotte Bernice Hodges of Winnie, Texas, and numerous nieces and nephews. Doyle was preceded in death by his parents, five brothers, four sisters, and two sons, Reginald Ray Tucker and Alan Doyle Tucker.

Funeral services will be held on Sunday, November 11, 2018, at Myers-Colonial Funeral Home in DeRidder, Louisiana, with Reverend Jason Hoychick and Reverend Kenneth Hodges officiating. Interment will follow at Blue Branch Cemetery in Pitkin, Louisiana. The family will receive friends from 11:00 AM till 2:00 PM prior to service at the funeral home.  Pallbearers are Adam Putnam, Brian Evans, Nathan Gann, Richard Tucker, Thomas Lansdale and Trey Evans.  Honorary Pallbearers are Ed Wood, Leroy Maul, Paul Cooper, Paul Penney, Raymond Gragg and Robert Kite.