Tony Raymond Tucker, age 57, of Springdale, Arkansas passed away on June 3, 2023 in Springdale, Arkansas. He was born on November 13,1965 in Wichita Kansas to Sgt. Everett Tucker and Rena Tucker Taylor. As a child raised in a military family, Tony lived in Arkansas, Puerto Rico, Michigan, and Alaska.  He graduated from Nottoway High School in Nottoway County Virginia.   Tony began his three year honorable military service at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland. In 1984, Tony scored the third highest in Virginia on his Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery Test.   He served with the 2045th Communications Squadron when they won the Air Force OUTSTANDING UNIT award.  Tony was a Computer Communications Specialist, working in the Presidential Communications Center where they monitored and communicated directly with AIR FORCE ONE.  His security clearance was 3 levels above top secret and took over a year to get because of the extensive background check.

After leaving Virginia, Tony moved to Springdale, Arkansas. While working at JB Hunt Trucking Company as a dispatcher, he met the love of his life, Amy Donoho.  Tony married Amy in 1996.  Tony left the trucking industry when he and his wife moved to Virginia.  He worked as a radio DJ at a historic radio station while also designing ads for the Crewe-Burkeville Journal.  Tony graduated with honors from NWACC.  He enrolled at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville.  While working on his Bachelor of Social Work, Tony had a stroke that affected his dominant side.  Since then, he has written seven novels, all of which have been published.  In 2022, Tony had a TIA, which is a mini stroke.  In 2023, he had two heart attacks, the final one on June 3rd.

Tony is survived by wife, Amy Tucker; father, Everett "Buddy" Tucker, Jr.; mother, Viva "Rena" Tucker Taylor; grandmother, Helen Haney Gillmore; uncle, Randy (Linda) Haney; cousins, Chris Haney, Hunter (Kaylene) Haney; three second cousins, Harper Haney, Maverick Haney and Izzy Haney; mother-in-law, Grace Donoho; sister in-law, Julie (Steve) Elkins; niece, Bella Elkins; two pups he and his wife considered their children, Shotzie and Aldo.

Graveside service will be 10:30 a.m., Thursday, June 8, 2023 at Fayetteville National Cemetery with Deacon Harry Ware officiating the service. American Legion Post 100 will render military honors. In lieu of flowers, please donate to animal charities like the Humane Society of the Ozarks and I'm Your Huckleberry Rescue in Pineville, Missouri.  Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Heritage Funeral Home 1591 South 48th Springdale, Arkansas 72762 (479)751-2444.