Mary Ellen Des Champs

Born in Wichita, Kansas to Carroll L. Tucker and Marjorie F. Hagerman on August 28, 1934, Mary is the youngest of three children. Her brother William “Bill” Tucker being the oldest died in his mid-60’s, her sister Barbara Tucker-Chase being the middle child is living with her eldest daughter Cheryl Wilson and family in Watauga, Texas,.
Several family members precede Mary in death this year. They are … Kenneth D. Estelle Aug. 12, 1947 – Jan. 21, 2013 of Lawrence, KS, Lois O. Tucker – Step Mother April 14, 1971 – May 30, 2013 of Wichita, KS, and a Great Nephew Michael Alcorn Aug. 8, 1972 – July 3, 2013 of Clarksburg, W.V.
Mary leaves behind one son Steven Brown of Eudora, KS and his wife Sharon Hird-Brown, a grandson Ronan Lee Brown, and a granddaughter Bekon Rose Brown-Flory of Kansas City, KS, a sister Barbara Jean Tucker-Chase, Alan Tucker of Washington State, Carolyn Tucker-Ballinger of Wichita, KS, Grace Tucker-Ulrech of Australia five nephews and five nieces and many great nephews and nieces.
Mary entered the arm forces threw the branch of the Navy on August 27, 1956 served two years and received an Honorable Discharge on September 5, 1958. After that Mary moved to Lawrence, KS where she started working for the University of Kansas. She has worked in many departments there from Pharmacology to her last position as secretary at the Herbarium. After her retirement she pursued her ministerial license and became a member of the Salvation Army where she took an active part in teaching bible lessons and ministering to the homeless people and visiting the nursing homes with other core workers.
During her lifetime Mary loved to travel, and travel she did all the way to Canada, New York, and back down to Texas and then back home to Kansas. She stayed for a few months in West Virginia and helped a dear lady and her family during a major illness and stayed with her until her death and then came home again and pickup up where she left off. Mary had itchy feet and couldn’t stay home for very long until she was back on the road again mostly going to Texas to see her sister. Through the years she slowed down and decided it was time for a change and moved to Overbrook, KS a small farming community where her nephew David and his wife Kathy lived. She lived in Overbrook for about a year then moved back to the Lawrence are due to her health getting closer in to her doctors. After her health started declining she relocated back to Overbrook and moved into Brookside Retirement Community where she lived until her death of this year.
Mary has touched many lives during her time on this earth and will be missed greatly but we as the living choose to celebrate her life and many achievements while here on this earth. But we who knew her best know that her first love was her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ and with this we know that she is in a much better place than we could ever hope.

Services for Mary will be held at Warren McElwain of Lawrence, KS on Monday November 25, 2013 at 10:00 A.M.. Inurnment will be held at Leavenworth National Cemetery at 1:30 P.M.