Barbara Pool Tucker Obituary (1946 - 2015)

Our cherished friend, Barbara Tucker, slipped quietly away on December 7, 2015, after a fierce but mercifully brief battle with the brain virus (PML), triggered by a drug used in the treatment of MS. This cruel disease, and everything used to treat it, stole her away from us far too soon. Barbara was our conscience, our compass and the keeper of our 'collective heart'. That heart is now reduced by half with the loss of our beautiful friend. She was the magnet that brought us together and the cement that held us together, and for that we will be eternally grateful. Kind, generous, compassionate, smart, funny and fiercely loyal, no one could ask for a better friend and confidant. She had a smile that lit up the room and a laugh that could bring the house down. She was definitely our 'better angel', but she also had just the right amount of the devil in her as well. That bit made us love her all the more. To say that we will miss her tenderness, understanding and love falls woefully short but we are grateful that she is now at peace and her 25 year struggle with the ravages of MS is finally at an end. Barbara was born on July 16, 1946, in Salt Lake City to Maynard T. and Bessie Brown Pool, joining her siblings, Karen and Doug. Her father passed away in 1949, leaving Bessie to raise 3 small children as a single mother with virtually no resources. Barbara adored Bessie and often spoke with pride and love about a mother who could tackle such a daunting task. Bessie's humor, determination, work ethic and honesty were clearly reflected in Barbara. Barbara graduated from East High in 1964. While still in high school, she began working at LDS Hospital and remained there for ten years, rising to the position of Office Manager of the Fluoroscopy Unit. In 1972, she went to work for Xerox Corporation in what turned out to be an outstanding career, eventually becoming a Senior Customer Service Representative. During her 16-year career at Xerox, she received many awards for her outstanding work and contributions to the company. Much of her success came from her remarkable talent for making even strangers feel as if they were her new best friends. Barbara became an Account Executive for Treasure Chest Advertising in print media in 1988. Her successful career was cut short by a diagnosis of MS in 1990, but she faced this terrible disease with the same grace and commitment that were the hallmarks of her life. She remained active in the community through her involvement with the MS Society, receiving the 'MS Champion of the Year' award in 1994, as well as working with the Salt Lake Exchange Club, where she chaired events for foster children and abused children and at Hogle Zoo, where she worked with animals in the 'Rain Forest' exhibit. Barbara met her best friend and soul mate, David VanWagenen in 1975, and thus began 'The Adventures of Barbara and David'. Barbara was the 'yin' to his 'yang', the 'beauty' to his 'beast' and the 'straight man' to all his antics. For 37 years, these two traveled everywhere, attended Ute football games religiously and had more fun and shared more laughter than any two people we knew. Barbara and David had something few of us ever truly achieve - a deep and abiding appreciation of life. They found joy in each new day and made every moment count. Barbara lost her darling David in March of 2014 and was still grieving this terrible loss until her passing. We would all like to think that their new adventures have begun once more (with a new sports car, of course) and that she has been reunited with her 'canine kids', Basher and Malone. Heaven indeed. Special thanks to Barbara's personal 'guardian angels', Steve Breitling, Rick Duggar and Vicki Ashworth who ministered to her every need. Barbara always said that she could not have survived the sorrow of losing David and the myriad complications of unwinding his business without them. She felt especially blessed that they had, by some miracle, found their way into her life. As for the rest of us who comprised 'Team Barbara' (Vicky McBride, Barbara Campbell, Laura Lunceford, Julie Ward, Dixie Brown, and Candace Cornelius), we can only hope that we did everything possible to honor her wishes and assure her dignity and comfort over the last two months. We are bereft at the loss of this elegant, remarkable woman. We all aspired to be more like her and inevitably fell short. It is impossible to imagine a future without her in it. Barbara was preceded in death by her beloved husband and best friend, David; her mother and father; her sister, Karen Carlson; her brother Doug Pool; and her mother-in-law, Trudy Walton. She is survived by dozens of friends, her darling dog, Sloan; her father-in-law, Dwight Walton (UT); her nieces Stacy Carlson (VA), Megen Westerdahl (AZ) and Kimberly Patamia (WA); her nephews Mark Carlson (CA) and Bret Carlson (CA); and her sister and brother-in-law Trudy and Ryan Searle (MA). Thanks to her honorary 'Uncle Larry' Peterson for his kindness and constant emails and cards that brightened Barbara's day. Per her request, Barbara is to be cremated and there will be no funeral. A celebration of her life is being planned, with details to be provided at a later date. Barbara would be so grateful if you wish to honor her life with a donation to the MS Society or the Humane Society. Online condolences may be shared at www.jenkins-soffe.com Service: Services to follow at a later date