Kay Rucker

Services for Kloma Modell "Kay" Brown Rucker of Temple will be held at 2:00 PM Thursday, at Scanio-Harper Funeral Home in Temple with Rev. Hubert Austin and Rev. Don Moore officiating. Graveside services will be held privately at a later date. Mrs. Rucker died Sunday, December 1st at a local hospital. She was born October 10, 1925, to Barney James Brown and Bessie Evelyn Riley Brown in Melvin, Texas. She grew up in Melvin and Brady, Texas. She lived in Brady until moving to Temple in the early 1940's. She was a natural born leader and master prankster. While in high school, she engineered a plot that put a cow on top of Brady High School. Her sister Jo was constantly looking out for her and trying to keep her out of trouble, throughout her life. She was fun loving and enjoyed life to its fullest. During her freshman year, at Troy High School, she loaded up the entire class in her car, without permission or planning, to see the dinosaur tracks. They arrived back at school too late to ride the bus and the Principal had to take everyone home. He was very happy to learn that the Brown girls were going to Temple the next year. At 85, she danced for four hours at her granddaughter, Hailee's wedding and was always the life of the party. She played drums in the Temple High School Band. Upon graduation from Temple High in 1944, she met the love of her life on a blind date. Glenn was home on leave from the Navy. They were married on May 25th, 1946 and for the next 67 years they were never apart. Kay was very civic minded and was active in many organizations, including Chairwoman of the March of Dimes, Heart Drive, Bell County Unit of American Cancer Society; Charter Member of Avolonte Study Club, Council member of Bluebonnet Girl Scout Council, Girl Scout Leader, Camp Kachina Camp Committee member, Past President of Business & Professional Women's Club of Temple, Past-President of Temple Council of Parents and Teacher's Association, and was named Outstanding Woman Citizen of the Year by the Chamber of Commerce in 1962. This was all accomplished while raising three children. She taught Sunday School and sponsored the Methodist Youth Fellowship Groups at Seventh Street Methodist Church. She was co-founder of the Temple Junior Cotillion Club and was a member of the Cotillion. She was a member of the Dawson Sunday School Class at First United Methodist Church and served for a time as Secretary. She received her Associates Degree from Temple Junior College and a Bachelor's Degree in Education from Mary Hardin Baylor . She did her post-graduate work at Baylor University and received a Master's Degree in Education from Southwest Texas State University. She graduated with highest honors in all her studies. She was an active member of Delta Kappa Gamma throughout her career. She began her teaching career in 1965 and retired after 21 years of teaching. She taught fourth and fifth grade at Thornton, Meridith, and Jefferson elementary schools. She was curriculum facilitator for four Temple elementary schools and one Waco school. She served as human relations facilitator. Kay was an officer in the local TSTA and also a State Delegate with TSTA. She was a member of the Texas School Book Adoption Committee. She was a member of TCTA and NEA. She was a member and past-president of Retired Teachers Association of Bell County and a newly inducted member of the DAR. Kay and Glenn in their retirement years, loved to travel in their motor home and enjoyed camping, fishing, and hunting. She was an avid fisherman and loved catching fish but did not like to eat fish or cook them in her home. She was preceded in death by her parents and her husband. Kay is survived by her sister Jo and husband Curtis Starnes of Temple, her brother-in-law Ray Rucker and wife Margaret of Temple, her brother-in-law Olen Rucker and wife Shirley of Katy, her daughter Debra Rucker Leggett and husband Bill Hannon of San Antonio, her daughter Becky Rucker McEntire and husband Keith of Temple, and her son Bill Rucker and wife Rhonda of Temple. She is survived by 12 grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews. Thank you to Doctor Bruce Kohler of Scott & White Hospital for excellent care of Kay and her husband Glenn through the years. Thank you to long time friends, Betty McEver, and Jack Morris for their support and friendship these last few years and also Mike and Jean Rucker of Salado. Visitation will be Wednesday from 5:00 to 7:00 PM at Scanio-Harper Funeral Home. The family requests that memorials be made to First United Methodist Church or a charity of choice in lieu of flowers.