Eva Camunez Tucker

“We lost the heart of San Angelo in many ways,” Bishop Michael Pfeifer says of the heart that touched so many lives during her time on earth, Eva Camunez Tucker. She came into the world on April 9th 1911 and left June 24th 2007. Throughout her 96 years she lived life to the fullest. Pfeifer describes her, “She was a marvelous woman. I’d like to sum up her title for San Angelo as being what we call in Spanish, La Madrena de Santa Angela, the Godmother of San Angelo. That’s what she was for so many years.” Bishop Michael Pfeifer and Terry Mikeska are just two of the countless people whose life was touched by her. Mikeska says, “Mrs. Tucker always said for years she told me, ‘I can have the largest house, the biggest in San Angelo, I could have all the full time servants I ever wanted.’” But she says, ‘I don’t want that’”. She said ‘I would do that for anyone else but I don’t want that for myself, I’m very comfortable and happy here.’” She says, ‘I just want do the most good for the most people.’” In 1930 Tucker became the first Hispanic graduate of San Angelo High School and later earned a teaching certificate, educating students across the Concho Valley. In 1948 she married, independent oil man Art Tucker, who later died in 1975. This philanthropist donated money to various organizations across West Texas and the world sharing with others. “She’s always contributing throughout the state and beyond and helping so many churches everywhere,” Mikeska says. The difference that Tucker made during her life’s journey is one that her loved ones hope to continue. “She was a very Christian woman and she defiantly followed God’s path and did the most good and we want to continue that from here on out,” Mikeska says.