Raye Tucker

Born in Seattle’s Swedish Hospital on March 20, 1923, to Joseph and Margaret Benveniste, Raye was the first of their five children. She went to Horace Mann Elementary School and then to Garfield High, where she met Jerry Tucker. They eloped ten days after she turned 18.

During the war, Jerry was sent to Yale to learn Mandarin and serve in the Chinese Combat Command as a translator, and Raye went with him, leaving their daughter Cherie with Jerry’s mother because of the polio scare at the time. At Yale, Raye worked in the law library and then processed soldiers at Ft. Bragg when Jerry was transferred there.

After the war they moved to their first house on Beacon Hill, where their son Doug was born. Jerry graduated from the UW while working in the warehouse at Keeler White, a company he eventually bought and changed into TAL Agencies. Raye managed the office there and also kept the books for Jerry Tucker’s Orchestra.

In 1964 they moved to Seward Park, but when Jerry, the devout golfer, discovered Glendale Golf and Country Club, they moved to Bellevue to be close to the golf course. Raye finally took up golf as well, reluctantly. They became devoted grandparents when their grandson Jeffrey was born, and Raye spent many days watching him while Cherie was at work.

She was an accomplished painter, winning ribbons and even selling some of her works. She also sewed and crocheted beautifully and baked the world’s best pies. She was active with many close friends from Beacon Hill in their Orthopedic Guild and in a garden club with her friend Mary Lou. Not one who liked speaking to groups, she allowed her daughter to talk her into being President of the Mothers Club at Cherie’s sorority. Recently she enjoyed being a member of City of Hope.

She moved to The Bellettini four years ago, where she made many new and dear friends. This year her family, including her adored great-grandson Rowan, celebrated her 93rd birthday with a feast of specially prepared Sephardic food, which she loved almost as much as she loved chocolate.