RUCKER, James W.

The Wickenburg Sun, Wickenburg, AZ June 3, 2009, p. A13 James W. Rucker was born July 8, 1940 in Little Rock, Ark., and raised in Congress, Ariz., which he considered his home. He passed away on May 18 in the V.A. Hospice in Prescott from lung cancer. He was also a patient of Hospice of the Pines in Dewey, Ariz. He is survived by his wife Evelyn; stepchildren Russ Shafer of Congress, Pat Grantham, and Paula Shafer; eight step-grandchildren and six step-great-grandchildren from the Grand Rapids, Mich., area; his brother-in-law and his wife John and Ruth Hufford of Clearwater, Fla.; his sister Reba Reason of Lubbock, Texas; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his dad James Rucker, his mother Thelma Gray, his stepfather Raymond Gray, and his brother-in-law Eddie Reason. He served in both the Army and the Navy and was proud to be a veteran, member of the American Legion, and lifetime member of the NRA. He spent about 20 years as a structural ironworker on the West Coast and then spent 12 years driving an 18-wheeler. His hobbies included guns, horses, cars and BSing at cafes with friends and strangers. He was described by a relative as being a big teddy bear - tough on the outside but a softie on the inside. Per his request, his body was donated to the International Institute for the Advancement of Medicine (IIAM) for research, and will then be cremated. There will be no memorial service, per his wishes.