Kenneth Owen Tucker

Kenneth Owen Tucker was born in Montgomery, WV on October 5th, 1983. He passed away on Tuesday, July 17th, 2018 in Greensboro, NC. Although he was 34 years young, he had the soul of someone who had lived through many things in his life. Often, he would have long conversations with anyone who would take the time to sit and talk about the deep things that ran through his inquisitive mind. Ken believed in helping others, no matter what your own present circumstances were. Through helping others, he believed that it restored your soul and brought back good things into your own life. This belief is something he instilled in his surviving daughter, Lexi. He called her his “moo-moo”. She only had her Dad for 10 years, but he taught her so many beautiful things that she will carry on for the rest of her life. He wished for her to do good things for others and to love with all her heart. Ken was a “live in the moment” type of person and he wanted his daughter to do the same. He wanted her to live life, make mistakes, and learn from them. This was a continuous theme in his own life.

We all knew Ken as “chef-boy-R-Kenny” for his mad skills in the kitchen or on the grill, and even as a “baby whisperer” for the incredible way he calmed children down. Ken loved to laugh with his infectious smile and he was very playful. He loved playing board games (as long as he was winning). He was very competitive. Ken also loved hiding until he jumped out and scared you. Kenneth would light up a room when he walked into it, no matter how gloomy it may have been before he walked in. We also knew him as a deep thinker who would sit to himself and write. He wrote poems, songs, stories; he loved to write. Ken loved to play his acoustic guitar. You could often find him serenading Lexi with his beautiful voice. He passed on his love of music to her. Ken loved so many artists and songs, but one band he loved in particular: Led Zeppelin. Regularly, he would play this song when he missed his mom who passed away.

STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN

There's a lady that's sure All that glitters is gold And she's buying a stairway to heaven. When she gets there she knows If the stores are all closed With a word she can get what she came for.

There's a sign on the wall But she wants to be sure 'Cause you know sometimes words have two meanings. In a tree by the brook There's a songbird that sings, Sometimes all of our thoughts are misgiven.

And she's buying a stairway to heaven.

There's a feeling I get When I look to the west, And my spirit is crying for leaving. In my thoughts I have seen Rings of smoke through the trees, When the voices of those who standing looking.

And she's buying a stairway to heaven.

And it's whispered that soon If we all call the tune Well Then, the piper will lead us to reason. And a new day will dawn For those who stand long And the forests will echo with laughter.

And she's buying a stairway to heaven.

Ooh, it makes me wonder, Ooh, it really makes me wonder.

If there's a bustle in your hedgerow Don't be alarmed now, It's just a spring clean for the May queen. Yes, there are two paths you can go by But in the long run There's still time to change the road you're on. And it makes me wonder.

Your head is humming, and it won't go In case you don't know, The piper's calling you to join him, Dear lady, can you hear the wind blow, And did you know Your stairway lies on the whispering wind.

And as we wind on down the road Our shadows taller than our soul. There walks a lady we all know Who shines white light and wants to show How ev'rything still turns to gold. And if you listen very hard The tune will come to you at last. When all are one and one is all To be a rock and not to roll.

And she's buying a stairway to heaven.

Ken was preceded in death by his mother, Susan Ward and his father, Kenneth E. Tucker. He was also preceded in death by his grandmother, Carol Ward. Ken was survived by his daughter, Lexi Tucker, and her mother, Ashley Robbins. Ken was survived by his older brother, John Ward and his girlfriend, Tiffany Wheless and their children, Lilith and Violet. He was also survived by his younger brother, Steven Carter and his children, Ethan, Harmony, and June. Ken was survived by his aunt, Rachel Ward and her boyfriend, Eric Kidd. Ken was also survived by his little cousin, Ariel Ward and her daughter, Gracey.

A memorial will be held at Advantage Funeral and Cremation Service in Greensboro, NC on July 31st, 2018 in Greensboro, NC at 1pm.

The family of Kenneth Tucker would like to send out a sincere thank you to everyone who stood by Ken throughout the years he struggled and to those who are helping the family cope with the devastating loss of someone so special to them.

I would like to leave you with one of the last poems he wrote to me on November 29th, 2017:

So, you think you can tell

Heaven from hell

Blue Skies from pain

Can you tell a green field

From a cold steel rain

Smile with a Veil

Do you think you can tell?

Your heroes from ghosts

Hard ashes to trees

Hard ash to a cold breeze

Cool comfort in change

Did you remain

Smile with a veil

Do you think you can tell?

Oh’ how I wish you were here

We’re just two lost souls

Swimming in a fish bowl

Year after Year

Running over the same old grounds

And how we found

Same old fears

I wish you were here