TUCKER – Lawrence (Larry) Strike Tucker, age 83, of Ignacio Colorado, passed away peacefully on October 17, 2023 from natural causes.
He was born of the Assiniboine and Gros Ventre tribes and an enrolled tribal member of the Fort Belknap Reservation in Harlem, MT to his mother Sophie Strike on November 24, 1939 in Harlem Montana and then later adopted by the parents that raised him, Joe and Elaine Tucker in 1940.
Larry served in the United States Air Force from July 23, 1956 to March 17, 1959. He served most of his time stationed at Thule AFB, Thule, and Greenland. He received a degree in Nursing, in (1979) from the Phoenix College in Arizona. He also graduated from Fort Lewis College in 1994 where he earned his Bachelor of Arts.
Larry came to live in Ignacio in (1980) and later became a Deacon of the Catholic Church in (2005). As a Catholic Deacon he served the Ignacio Community in various duties such as performing Marriages, Baptisms, Blessings and Funerals. He also served as a Spiritual Leader and Liaison to the members of the Southern Ute Indian Tribe who are active in traditional medicine as well as the church.
Larry was known in the community to have a lovable personality that made an impact with whomever he came in contact with.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Cecilia Tucker (2022), his daughter Crystal Ann (1988) and son Anthony Lawrence (2017).
He is survived by his daughter Stacy Nahlee, two granddaughters Crystal Gambino (Israel) and Evelyn Lazero. As well as four great grandchildren: Calista, Calina, Ilijah, and Camilla of Albuquerque, NM; as well as his stepchildren, Brenda Poulton-Jakins, P. Ryan Gallegos and Greg Gallegos. He also leaves behind five grandchildren, Travis, April, Israel, Noah and Rochelle and 6 great grandchildren, and many loved friends.
A Rosary will be recited at 9 a.m. on Monday, November 13, 2023 and the Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 10 a.m., both services will take place at St. Ignatius Catholic Church in Ignacio. Burial will follow services at the Ignacio Cemetery (East).
Remembering Larry S. Tucker
Larry Tucker made his journey home to be with the Good Lord on Tues, October 17, 2023. He began working with the Southern Ute Indian Tribe on October 1, 1992, when he was hired as an Accounting Clerk with the Enterprise Accounting Division in the Finance Department. After working for 2 ½ years in that capacity, he accepted a new position on April 4, 1995, when he started as the Records Manager in the Department of Tribal Information Services. That same year in 1995, the discussion of an IT Department came about. Larry worked closely with Mr. Eddie Box Jr., and Aaron Torres at the time to start talking about technological needs of the tribal government.
While working as the Records Manager for 10 years, he helped to advance the Tribe forward to digitize records for better access and records management. Larry contributed a major part of his professional career to the Tribal government and was very instrumental in testing software and making technological recommendations to Tribal Council. Larry had a good working relationship with tribal members and his colleagues.
Larry held TIS together at times when the department needed guidance, leadership, and historical knowledge. In May 2005, Larry was temporarily reassigned as the Tribal Information Services Director. He remained in that role for 2 years before returning to the Records Manager position where he stayed until his retirement on July 26, 2013.
In addition to his work contributions, Larry served the community and Tribal membership in many different ways. Larry served this country in the Air Force and participated with the Southern Ute Veterans Association as an active member in many community functions. He was always willing to provide military services and color guard duties at various powwows, participated in flag raising ceremonies, Day of Remembrance, Veteran’s Day ceremonies, and walked in many parades with the Southern Ute Vets. Larry was also a Sundancer. He participated in the Tagu-Wuni here on the SUIT Reservation, to dance and pray for the community he lived in and for the Southern Ute People he loved and worked with.
Larry’s blessings took place all over the people, reservation, events, and buildings. He also accepted invitations to speak and pray at funerals and weddings when he shared good words from a cultural and spiritual place.
He was a frequent flyer at the Tribe’s potlucks and had a great sense of humor and kindness. Larry will be greatly missed by this tribal community, friends, family and his parish. “Go Rest High On That Mountain”