Robert Keith Tucker (Bob) died peacefully in his home on Sunday, April 4, 2021. He was surrounded by his loving wife of 54 years, Patricia and sons, Peter and Jonathan. It was Easter Sunday and a beautiful day to meet his Father in Heaven. He will join many family members there who were waiting to welcome him home.

Bob was born in Smithville, MO. on June 26, 1944 to Rev. W.R. Tucker and Elizabeth Ellen Tucker. Bob and his brothers were typical preacher's kids who were constantly pushing the limits of their parents and always causing trouble. In his early teen years in Phoenix, Arizona he was a bad boy, wearing his collar up, a ducktail haircut with a tiny drop of Fitches hair oil on his forehead and a pack of cigarettes stuck in his short sleeved shirt. He was the proverbial “pk”. Later he wrote “Stories of a Preacher's Kid” for his sons and others to enjoy. Bob could find humor in the most mundane things and he kept his family laughing until the day he passed away.

Bob graduated from Harrisonville High School in 1962 and served in the Army for two years during the Vietnam War. He completed his Bachelors and Masters Degree in Counseling Psychology at the University of Missouri in Kansas City. He also became a Certified Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselor.

He decided to devote his life to helping others. He was a pioneer in Community Mental Health during the 70’s and eventually became the Director of Lee’s Summit Hospital’s Employee Assistance Program. He then moved to the National Federal Emergency Management Program in the Clinton Administration and and worked with FEMA Staff working around the country.

One year he was selected to work with the Kansas City Chiefs players (one of his favorite years). During the later part of his career he worked with the Good Samaritan Project and Vocational Rehabilitation where he received an award for his outstanding work in helping others. He was an expert in dealing with people who were suffering with the pain of mental health problems. He was a very gentle and loving man.

Bob’s great passion was trout fishing, hiking and camping. He and his fishing buddies travelled to Rock Bridge, Mo every Spring and Fall. He also fished in Minnesota, Vermont, Colorado and Canada. He brought home many beautiful trout. He could never eat one himself but put them on the grill for his family to enjoy.

Bob was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers; Tom and Jim and his sister, Susie.

He is survived by his wife Pat, and sons; Peter (Kelli) and Jonathan (Marie), two grandsons; Erik and Branden, his sister; Terry Beth, 4 nieces, 7 nephews, and two brothers-in-law; David (Marilyn) and Barney (Terry), and a sister-in-law; Cyndee. In addition there are many loving friends and those he worked with who will miss him greatly.

We are enormously grateful to the nurses and staff at Kansas City Hospice House for their care, compassion and devotion to us during Bob’s illness. They are all true angels of mercy.

A Celebration of Bob’s Life will be held on Saturday, May 8th at 11:00 a.m. at St. Anne’s Episcopal Church in Lee’s Summit, MO. Flowers may be delivered to the church after 10:00 a.m. Anyone who has a particular memory of Bob they would like to share will be welcome.

In lieu of the pandemic the family asks that all attendees be fully vaccinated and wear masks.