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October 31, 1980
Dear Joe,
Thank you for the info.
My sister is president this year, but she is out of town; she is recuperating from very serious surgery in June.
I feel that my grandparents, Emma Bracewell Tuck and Arthur Edward Tuck helped me develop a stronger and more caring personality. My mother Vivian Tuck Williams is the most wonderful mother that anyone can ask for. There are three of us. My sister Vivian Elda Cox, and our brother Barney Kenneth Williams. Our brother Barney is practicing ophthalmologic surgeon in Kerrville, Tx. Our mother owns and operates an optical shop in Kerrville and does, in my opinion, beautiful oil paintings.
I’m sorry, back to Emma B. Tuck. She used to tell me “when a girl loses her character, she has lost everything”. She told me that she and my grandfather Arthur E. Tuck were sitting side by side on a trunk when he was courting her. He put his arm around her and she jumped off and said, “Mr. Tuck, I am not that kind of girl”.
I can remember when they lived in their apartment house in Goose Creek (now Baytown) at 510 W. Pierce Emma fed all the transients at the back door. When I visited with them, I walked the three blocks to the Baptist church where Arthur E. Tuck was a deacon. Emma always called Arthur, her husband, Mr. Tuck. I remember when Emma got her first electric refrigerated, a Norge. She always kept a tray of ice cream in her Norge (made with chilled Pet milk—delicious). This Norge was her pride and joy. She defrosted it once a week and it was kept scrupulously clean. Emma was strictly a housewife and mother, but a wonderful one. I recall one summer that I stayed with them and went to summer school at Robt E Lee to make up a math credit that I had failed. My grandfather, Arthur, helped me with my studies. He taught us to play cards and dominos from the time we were at his knee. Emma thought this was a slight sin!
Arthur E. Tuck had an insurance business in Goose Creek. My grandmother, Emma, belonged to the Rebecca Lodge, and I am not sure about Eastern Star although Arthur had Masonic rites at his funeral.
I shall have to get help on the number of children Arthur and Emma had from my mother. I shall list the ones I am sure of: my mother, Vivian Tuck Williams (she had a twin, a boy, who died at birth), Aunt Thelma Erin Tuck McCain, Uncle Robert who died of pneumonia as he was on the boat coming home from WW 1; the VFW post in Baytown is named for him, Uncle Grady Tuck who developed land in Bastrop. He donated the land for the new hospital and a portrait of him hangs in the lobby of the hospital, my dear Uncle Elton (the baby) who later was accused of running over and causing the death of a woman he met in a bar. He did have to serve some time in prison, but he never touched alcohol again, had his full civil rights restored before his death, and developed a wonderful relationship with God. He was a dear and good friend to my sister and me before he died an untimely death. I don’t know much about Uncle Rudolph.
I would like very much to bring our part of the Family Tree up to date. My brother, Dr. Williams, has four children. My sister, Vivian, has three children. I have four children, three by my first marriage and one by my second.
Did I understand correctly—that you will mail out the notices? I shall get mother, Vivian Tuck Williams, to help with old family pictures, etc. Mother has the U. S. flag which was draped over Uncle Robert’s casket from WW 1.
I’ll be in touch again before reunion time.
Helen Mansfield, granddaughter
(Emma Bracewell Tuck)
P. S. I have no great accomplishments, but my grandmother, Emma, gave me a stronger character and a faith in God.
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