April 25, 1940 – July 06, 2016
Elizabeth Marie Pilgrim Tucker known to everyone as “Betty”, passed away peacefully at her home in Winter Haven, Florida on July 6th 2016. Her battle with cancer was short, but fierce. She fought until the end.
Betty was born in Beloit, Wisconsin on April 25, 1940 to Owen and Mary Pilgrim. She grew up in Delhi, New York where she met and married her childhood sweetheart John R. Tucker III, son of John and Harriett Tucker, on October 21, 1961. She is a former resident of Long Island, New York and Springvale, Maine. She was a devoted mother to John R. Tucker IV (Debbey) and Debra Thomsen (David). She was a loving and dedicated grandmother to Jason and Natalie Thomsen, Jenny and Jacob Ivey, Tyler, Michael and Jacob Thomsen. She had recently become a Great Grandmother to Paisley Thomsen. She was a sister to Gerry Pilgrim, Dianne and John Digilio, Don and Jeannie Pilgrim, Allen Pilgrim and Lois and Bob Brady. She was a loving Aunt to Susan, Megan and Katie Cutler, Sandra Digilio, John Digilio, Jarrad, Amie and Owen Pilgrim, Ben, Melissa, Reagan, Aubrey and Jacob Pilgrim, Rob Brady and Kristina and Doug Blakesley.
Betty was happiest when she was serving others.
She volunteered as a coach, secretary, treasurer and managed the concession stand for many years for the Sanford-Springvale, Maine Little League. She was one of the first women to serve as a Little League Baseball District Administrator.
For many years she was avolunteer at the H.D. Goodall Hospital in Sanford, Maine and a volunteer and major blood donor for the American Red Cross in Sanford, Maine.
She was a long time member of the Haines City Inner Wheel Club serving as local club President and District Chairman, and in June of 2015 she was installed as the President of Inner Wheel USA.
She faithfully attended and participated in many organizations within her churches. She loved to sing and shared her talent in the choirs at North Parish Congregational Church in Sanford, Maine and the First Presbyterian Church of Haines City.
She loved to visit Disney World just to walk and socialize. She collected Disney memorabilia and had an entire room in her house dedicated to her collectables. Traveling, cruising, shopping and attending all of her grandchildren’s activities were her hobbies. She was a friend to all that she met, including animals, birds or any other living creature, but especially cherished her Inner Wheel and Church friends. Her greatest joy was her family.
A Memorial Service will be held at the First Presbyterian Church in Haines City, Florida on August 6, 2016 at 10:00 AM.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to the Inner Wheel USA Foundation, P.O. Box 3414 Haines City, FL 33845-3414, or the Children’s Ministry at First Presbyterian Church of Haines City, 104 Scenic Highway, Haines City, FL 33884 or Good Shepherd Hospice.
Condolences may be sent to the family and the webcast of the service can be viewed at www.marionnelsonfuneralhome.com