Charla Rae Tubb

Nichols Hills - We lost NannyMom to cancer in the early hours of the morning on Friday, September 17, 2021. She had just turned 82 years old, having celebrated her birthday on August 8th. She was adamantly opposed to having an “overstated obituary,” so here is an understated one.

NannyMom was the type of mother who dropped off her children at college but then did not leave . . . instead shopping for local antiques to decorate dorm rooms days after all other parents had left, often to the chagrin of roommates.

NannyMom was the type of grandparent who loved her grandchildren (and all of their friends) more than life itself - - hunkering down to play with them on the floor as toddlers, singing with them loudly (and beautifully) from the audience at every music recital, and simply marveling at literally everything they did. As she recently said to her grandchildren, “The thing I regret the most about dying is that I won’t be here to see all the wonderful things you are going to do for the rest of your lives.”

NannyMom enjoyed drinking citrus drinks, cooking with butter, and reading books on every possible topic. She had a Master’s Degree in Social Work. She believed in magic and collected treasures - - like rocks, sticks, and feathers gifted to her from grandchildren and those she found on mountain paths - - which she kept safely in a magic treasure cabinet in her home. She traveled to faraway places with family, friends, and even a dream group. She loved to dance. She knew the words to almost every song, and she often spontaneously sang out the lyrics of a song befitting the situation, just like in a musical. She cherished handwritten notes and her handwriting was exquisite. NannyMom loved gathering and arranging beautiful things and she brought so much beauty into the world. NannyMom was beautiful.

NannyMom was predeceased by her parents, Forest and Oredith Hull. She was fortunate to be survived by all of her immediate family, including: her high school sweetheart and husband for more than 60 years, Jerry Tubb; her daughter Jennifer Puckett and her husband Tony; her son Jeremy Tubb and his wife Julie; and her grandchildren: Tony Sam Puckett and his partner Sydney Davidson, and their daughter Artemis; Ava Marie Puckett Wolf and her husband Brian; Emily Tubb; Cameron Tubb; and Ethan Tubb.

Thanks to the wonderful care provided by Dr. Brian Geister and his oncology team at Integris, NannyMom lived more years than she otherwise would have, and thus experienced and celebrated many joyous occasions she otherwise would have missed, including Ava’s wedding in Tennessee. Thanks to the wonderful care from Kim, Glenda, Lucretia, Integris Hospice, and others, NannyMom spent her final days at home, in a comfortable bed she loved, surrounded by soft down pillows.

Due to the pandemic no formal service will be held. Instead, NannyMom’s ashes will be scattered in the Cuchara Valley, where she often lived and loved spending time with good friends. In her final days NannyMom made this request: “For heaven’s sake, don’t attend some ceremony for me. Just go to a beautiful place somewhere and think about a few of the good memories we had together.” We will.