Ruth Tucker

In Memory of “The Water Lady”

“Ruth Tucker had 88 years of quite an incredible life,” reflected MVWSC president Doug Kieta upon hearing of Mrs. Tucker’s passing. She went to her heavenly home in the morning of May 30, 2022. Her funeral service will be held Saturday, June 4, 2022 at 11:00 a.m. at St Olaf Lutheran Church in Cranfills Gap, Texas, located at 402 Meridian Street.

Cranfills Gap and Mustang may be small communities, but they were home to an icon as well-known as Fort Worth, who was honored in 2016 for her 40 years of service to Mustang Valley Water. Just ask any old-timers around; they have all heard that friendly voice saying, “Sweetie, this is Ruth, your water lady.”

Ruth Tucker came to Bosque County in the 1960's with her husband Parks Tucker, where this gal from the big city decided she loved the country life. In the 60's, every rural family in Mustang still had their own water well. In true Texan form, when life was hard the Tuckers always dug in to find a solution. So, in 1974 when their water well stopped working, a band of friends got together to start a water company. After a year of planning, HC Tucker, Oliver Hanson, and Ray, Albert and John Hastings, along with the first 50 members of Mustang Valley Water dug their first well in the Mustang community.

The Mustang Valley Water Supply Corporation began as a member-owned cooperative lead by a panel of six board members. Those first 50 meters and 1 well have now grown to 800+ meter connections, 7 wells and 258 miles of pipe covering a large rectangle that encompasses the rural properties between Clifton, Meridian and Cranfills Gap, and as the name implies, services all of Mustang.

Ruth Tucker was a vital part of making it all happen; she ran the office for 40 years. She knew all the members and they knew her. It was quite amazing to hear her describe where everyone lived, where their meter was located, and how they became members. So integral was she to the company, that most members thought she was the owner.

With her loyalty and selfless service in mind, the 2016 Board of Directors, consisting of President Doug Kieta, Treasurer Tom Blossom, Secretary Gris Griswold, Myron Lee, Aubrey Richards, Harold Leigh and Nancy Bratcher, honored Ruth by naming the first well after her. Mrs. Tucker was quite surprised when the board had her unveil the Ruth Tucker Well sign that will forever hang in her honor. And she was quite deserving, Sweetie. Afterall, she was Ruth Tucker, and she will be forever missed.