On Monday, January 31st, 2022, Ira Gene Tuckness, of Coppell, Texas, was called home by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ after 68 years of friendship, laughter and love here on earth. We will mourn the loss of his presence in our lives in full knowledge that he has been made whole again by our heavenly Father.
Gene was born on December 25, 1953 in Big Spring, Texas to Rufus Ira Tuckness and Lillian Lavada Patton (Tuckness) Rhyne. When he was young, Gene enjoyed baseball, fishing, and attending church with his extraordinary mother. He played the clarinet in his High School band and spent as much time as he could with his siblings and their children. Gene graduated from Big Spring High School in 1972. He moved to the DFW area and attended classes at Brookhaven College in Farmers Branch, Texas while beginning his career at Otis Engineering in Carrollton, Texas, in 1976. While working at Otis, he met the love of his life, Cindy, and married her on June 26th, 1982. They were married for 39 wonderful years. Otis became Halliburton Energy Services where he worked for 41 years. Many of his colleagues became lifelong friends.
When his children were young, he became heavily involved with the Lewisville and Coppell YMCAs’ Indian Guides & Princesses program, now known as Adventure Guides. He was affectionately known as “Blue Moon” and for a few years served that community as Nation Chief, leading campouts, derby car races, fundraisers, parade delegations and many other activities.
In more recent years, Gene became a proud member of an organization dedicated to non-confrontational reduction and prevention of crime, the Citizens on Patrol (COP) program with the Coppell Police Department. He would help in assisting patrol in non-law enforcement activities and maintaining a constant visible presence in the City of Coppell to serve both law enforcement officers as well as the community at-large.
Gene was a one-of-a-kind person, full of life and kindness. “The perfect child” as his mother often told us all. He never met a stranger, which resulted in quick errands inevitably ending in hour long conversations. He was a wonderful friend and the best husband, father and grandfather his family could imagine. He truly excelled at fatherhood. Coaching every team and supporting every interest of his daughters’ was his highest priority. He never missed a single opportunity to spend time with, and hug on his beloved children and grandchildren. Gene will be remembered for his big smile and boisterous laughter. He was the type of person who would literally give you the shirt off his back, fix your flat tire, buy you a meal and then call you the next day to make sure you are doing ok. He loved making everyone laugh and was always good for entertaining any gathering with a speech. No microphone was safe when he was around. Gene made delicious barbeque and a mean margarita. He loved going on camping trips and traveling in his camper with his wife and family.
Gene was a beloved volunteer for many organizations and community activities. He rarely passed an opportunity for involvement and service. Groups he volunteered for include the Coppell YMCA, local YMCA Indian Guides & Princesses, Coppell ISD and various PTA committees, Valley Ranch Baptist Church, Cornerstone Baptist Church, Promise Keepers, CHS Choir Boosters, CHS Cheer Boosters, the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation’s local Dallas Chapter, local Republican organizations, and Coppell Citizens On Patrol (COP).
Gene’s Christian faith was an essential and central part of his life. He was a man of God, a dedicated and humble follower that led with a servant’s heart. He served Valley Ranch Baptist Church in many capacities over the decades, from teaching Sunday School for both youth and adults, to local outreach, to making coffee and doing church and parking lot security. No job was too big or too small for him to agree to take on. Gene was a lifelong prayer warrior and he would want everyone mourning him to be reminded that God gave him the wonderful life that he shared with us and it was Christ’s gift and sacrifice for us all that has allowed him to return to be with his Creator when his earthly body could no longer keep up with his spirit.
Gene was diagnosed with type 1 Juvenile Diabetes at the age of nine, in 1962. At that time, not many children lived to adulthood with his disease. Doctors recently told him that he was their oldest diabetic patient and somewhat of a medical marvel for his age. When his daughters were young, he assumed he would not live long enough to see them graduate high school, so he lived every day to the fullest. He lived thankful for each day, without expectation. He was grateful to see his girls graduate high school and college, walk them down the aisle and rejoiced in the birth of four beautiful grandchildren. After a full life, reaching milestones he never thought he would get to see, he is able to rest peacefully with his beloved Mother in heaven.
He is survived by his wife, Cynthia Strickland Tuckness. He was a devoted father of two daughters Candice Jean Kuzov & Rachel Lynne Dorman and their husbands Alfred Kuzov & Jeffery Kelland Dorman. Gene was also fiercely adored by his grandchildren Aurora Rose Kuzov, Alfred Rhyne Kuzov, Abel James Dorman and Lillian Joye Dorman. He is also survived by his brother WD O’Donnell and his wife Jean O’Donnell, his sister Claudia Brown and her husband Tommy Brown, his mother-in-law Sandy Strickland, his brother-in-law David Strickland and his wife Tina Clark, his brother-in-law Bill Strickland and his wife Kristin Strickland, his cousin Cyndi Lackey and her husband Lyndel Lackey, his cousin Joe Tuckness and his husband Jerry Janosco, his nephews and nieces Leslie O’Donnell and his family, Sherri O’Donnell and her family, Tina Brackeen and her husband Robert Brackeen and their family, Debbie Singleton and her husband Don Singleton and their family, Scott Strickland and his wife Lincoln Strickland, Will Strickland, Haley Strickland and Matthew Strickland.
Gene was preceded in death by his parents Rufus Tuckness and Lillian Rhyne, his step-father Hugh Rhyne, his grandson Demitri Bryant Kuzov, his sister-in-law Mary Jack O’Donnell, his nephew’s son Ashley O’Donnell, and his fathers in-law Tom Strickland and Ray Treaccar.
Gene’s visitation will be on Sunday, February 6th from 5-8pm at Rolling Oaks Funeral Home(400 Freeport Pkwy, Coppell, TX 75019).
His funeral Service will be on Monday, February 7th at 10am at Valley Ranch Baptist Church (1501 E Belt Line Rd, Coppell, TX 75019). The service will be officiated by Dr. Larry Parsley. His pallbearers are Darrel Brundige, Steve Lacey, Jeff Lamb, Brian Olsen, Jerry Sims, Steve Taylor, Jimmy Woodcock, and Jim Zoda. Music will be provided by John Hewett and Don Harton.
His burial will immediately follow the funeral service at Rolling Oaks Memorial (400 Freeport Pkwy, Coppell, TX 75019).
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to an organization close to Gene’s heart: The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF). JDRF served him and his family in his youth. As an adult, he volunteered and raised funds for JDRF through a poker tournament event he enjoyed hosting: All In For JDRF. http://www2.jdrf.org/goto/GeneTuckness
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.rollingoaksfuneralhome.com for the Tuckness family.
