Judge O. A. Tucker Dies Early Tuesday Morning
Judge Orville A. Tucker, one of Chehalis' best known attorneys, died at his home on James street early Tuesday morning, following a brief illness. He was a kindly, friendly man, popular and well liked by a wide circle of friends throughout the county and by his associates at the bar. Judge Tucker, who was 70 years of age, had enjoyed a wide and varied experience. he was admitted to law practice in this state in 1903 at Seattle. He served as a member of the house; and later as a state senator from the 32d (north end) district in King county from 1901 to 1905, and was also assistant corporation counsel in Seattle under Scott Calhoun. In 1909 he went to Alaska to engage in the practice of his profession. While in the north Judge Tucker served as U. S. court commissioner at Cordova several years. This job occasioned his visiting many parts of that vast domain to hold preliminaries in cases ranging all the way from small offenses to murder. He later returned to Seattle.
Judge Tucker came to Chehalis eight years ago. In 1926 he was elected justice of the peace for a four-year term. The same year he was appointed Chehalis police judge by Mayor West and he held this position up to the time of his death. Two years ago Judge Tucker was a candidate for the republican nomination for county attorney and made a surprisingly strong run against adverse odds. He was a member of Chehalis B. P. O. Elks Lodge No., 1374; St. Helens Lodge No. 101, Knights of Pythias; and the Chehalis Aerie of Eagles.
Judge Tucker is survived by his widow, Mrs. Grace Tucker; three sons, O. A. Tucker jr. of Bell, Calif.; Nesbit A. Tucker of Portland and Dr. F. A. Tucker of Harborview hospital, Seattle; also three grandchildren.
The body was removed to the Fissel Funeral Home, where funeral services will be held at 2 o'clock this afternoon, directed by the Chehalis Elks' lodge. The body will be taken to Seattle for burial.
At the funeral service W. E. Bishop, well known Chehalis attorney, will deliver the eulogy. The Elks' lodge Knights of Pythias and Fraternal Order of Eagles will attend. Pall bearers will be prominent attorneys of Chehalis and Centralia, the honorary list including Judge W. A. Reynolds, George Dysart, John M. Ponder and Judge A. E. Rice. Active pall bearers will be A. A. Hull, J. E. Murray, G. L. Thacker, H. E. Donohoe, W. H. Cameron and Geo. C. Ellsbury.
Source: The Chehalis Bee-Nugget, 4 December 1931, front page. Microfilm available at Washington State Library, 6880 Capitol Boulevard South, Tumwater, WA. 98512
Transcribed by Kathryn Lester. She has no further information on this individual.
[Editor's note: There is an interesting article at HistoryLink.org about Orville A. Tucker's proposed cigarette ban in 1903, when he was a state senator from Seattle.]