Mary McAuliffe Tucker, member of the Mission Hills Chapter 6-039-KS, was born November 3, 1899, in Springfield, Missouri, to Nell and Eugene McAuliffe. As Mary said, "You never miss what you didn't have." As a child, it was an exciting day when they had running water, and her mother had a pump at the kitchen sink. Later growing up in St. Louis, the very thought of electric lights was a miracle. She and her sister Kathleen loved to go around the house punching the buttons and making every room bright.
When they went anywhere, it was by bicycle (with her terrier in the basket) to visit friends or to the ice-cream store. She was intrigued by having a photograph taken. The photographer said a man would come out of the camera, but she said she watched, and no man ever appeared. To this day Neil Armstrong walking on the moon is just beyond belief.
Mary and her husband Charles, lived in Mission Hills, Kansas, and raised their daughters, Jean Lundell and Gail Tucker. She attended the University of Missouri in Columbia and was a member of the Kappa Kappa Gamma Sorority. In the fall of 2000, she was honored at a Founders Day luncheon for four generations of Kappas in one family who had attended the same school.
Mary became a DAR member in 1953, and was organizing member of Mission Hills Chapter in February 1958. She has always been a gracious hostess, opening her home for meetings and teas. Mary was honored on October 25, 2000, on her 100th birthday at a Chapter tea in the home of a chapter member. She was presented a "brick" with her name and Mission Hills Chapter printed on it. It is to be laid in the sidewalk at the newly renovated Union Station in Kansas City. She also received greetings from NSDAR, KSDAR, and a personal note from then President General, Mrs. Dale Kelly Love. The speaker, Bill Kalahurka, host of the daily TV show Kansas City Crossroads, was most appreciative of Mary and her reminiscence of past area history. A most Happy Birthday to you Mary Tucker, from all your DAR friends.
Story by Tilly Masson, Mission Hills Chapter, DAR.
