Artie W. Tucker

Arthur “Artie” Wayne Tucker was born August 27, 1964, in Corpus Christi, Texas, to Mary Ann Branch and Arthur B. Tucker. He was one of four children. He had two sisters, Yvette and Dena, and one brother, Stacy.

Growing up, Artie was a fun-loving kid who enjoyed pranking his siblings. He played football, participated in Boy Scouts, and had a passion for fishing. Their family camped often at Garner State Park, and they loved it so much that it became a family reunion spot later in life. As a teenager, his father A.B. taught him carpentry and he utilized those skills often throughout his 58 years. He is remembered as a talented craftsman that could build or fix anything.

Artie met the love his life, Traci, after being set up on a blind date by mutual friends. They had a whirlwind romance and after six months they were married on August 9, 1988. They had two sons, Arthur Brian and James Blake. Artie shared his love of the outdoors with his boys, especially hunting. They frequented the lake as a family where they spent many days out on the boat waterskiing and tubing. Artie handed-down his priceless knowledge of carpentry to Brian and Blake, as his own father had instilled in him. He lived for his boys and was always there whenever they needed him.

Artie worked for 24 years at APAC/Gulf Coast but spent his free time making homemade wine. His hobby turned into a business venture with his wife, Traci. Together they owned Cotton Creek Winery, where he was the creator of the wines and ciders. He had a talent for concocting fun and unusual flavors that their patrons loved. Artie was a great cook, and he used his knowledge to create a diverse menu for the winery, including his delicious flatbread pizzas.

Another one of Artie’s great passions was his love of Corvettes. He was a sponsor and a proud member of the Tri-City Corvette Club.

Artie left us too soon on Wednesday, January 11, 2023, at the age of 58. He passed away surrounded by his loving family. He is survived by his wife, Traci Gafford Tucker; mother, Mary Ann Tucker; children, Arthur Brian Tucker and his wife, Hannah, and James Blake Tucker and his wife, Kayla; grandchildren, Arthur Shepard Tucker, Brodie Callahan Tucker, and Finley Rae Tucker; siblings, Yvette Wright and her husband, Cliff, and Dena Harbin and her husband, Dean, and numerous extended family members, friends, loved ones, and coworkers through the years.

He is preceded in death by his father, Arthur B. Tucker and brother, Stacy Len Tucker.

A gathering of Mr. Tucker’s family and friends will begin at 5:00 p.m., with his memorial service to follow at 6:00 p.m., Friday, January 20, 2023, at Broussard’s, 1605 North Major Drive, Beaumont. His cremation arrangements were handled through Broussard’s Crematorium.

Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 632008, Houston, Texas 77263 or MD Anderson Cancer Center for Research, P.O. Box 4319, Houston, Texas 77210-4319.