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Show Spanish Tort Lifetime of Love: From TUCKETT • 3 much time as they could together. Mattie even helped LaMar in his business. LaMar became a State Farm insurance agent for 30 years until he retired. "Mother worked right with him the whole time," Randy said. As a former LDS bishop, Randy had the opportunity to help other couples in their marriages. He often used the good things his parents taught as he counseled them. According to Randy, his parents always took the time to listen and communicate. "I would counsel couples that communication is more important than money matters. You have to communicate and don't just assume they already know. Always be courteous enough to talk to one another," said Randy. It isn't easy, he said. It takes work. To illustrate, he used the example of Tom Hanks's character in the movie Castaway. So much of his efforts went into trying to get the fire started. Once it was started, he had to continue to work to keep it alight. "Marriage is like that," Randy said. "It takes work to keep it going, but you never let the flame go out." Paul said his parents always worked out their conflicts. "You didn't hear them argue and fight a lot," he said. 'They always agreed in front of the kids. It was just the way they were. We always knew we couldn't play one of them against the other because they were always together on things." Both Mattie and LaMar taught their children not only by their love they had for their children, but also by their own personal example. "Mother had a unique way of lifting others, and to revive other's spirits. She always had a positive attitude," Randy said. Paul said that he has striven as an adult to implement his dad's ability to control his anger. "Whenever we did something that he didn't approve of, Dad never reacted quickly. We'd see him close his eyes, and shake his head, but he never reacted heavily right off that bat," he said. "I don't ever remember him losing it or going off into a rage." Randy said that his parents never complained to anyone else about their struggles. Courtesy photo WEDDING DAY: Mattie and LaMar Tuckett tied the knot on Aug. 13, 1947. They would have celebrated their 60th anniversary this year. "Mother and Dad never complained one ounce about their problems," he said. "They just focused on the good." One cannot talk about the Tucketts without thinking of music. It also is synonymous with Mattie and LaMar, They started singing together when they were ten years old. They both had parents that were musically inclined, and who brought them together to sing at various functions in the church and community. They loved to sing together, and continued to do so until LaMar died in Oct. 2002. "Their voices blended almost perfectly," said their second son, Roger. Roger said his parents sang at "Music was always a part of our over 500 funerals in addition to other home," Randy said. "As we were community functions. growing up, Dad and Mother were Another one of their sons, Paul, said always practicing. As kids we heard he spoke at Mattie's funeral in May that all the time. Dad especially loved 2007. He said his parents were going to quartet harmony." sing at one final funeral. "This one right now," he said, and Because of this legacy of music, the then he turned on a recording of them Tuckett boys started singing together in a quartet just before LaMar died. Roger singing together. even made his career in music. Even though both Mattie and LaMar "Everyone of us sang together," have passed away, their posterity is still Randy said. "It was just part of our life. growing. They have 31 grandchildren We grew up knowing music had to be and 30 great-grandchildren who carry part of our life." on the legacy of love they left behind. |