Lois M. (Merton) Tucker

Lois M. Tucker, 82 of Elm Street, passed away peacefully at Maine Medical Center April 17, 2021.

Lois was born May 16, 1938 in Glens Falls, NY.  At an early age she moved to Saratoga Springs NY.  Upon graduation she attended SUNY where she became a medical technologist. She started at Ellis Hospital in Schenectady NY.  While at the laboratory she continued training becoming a histology technologist.  Upon leaving Schenectady she was a technologist in Bennington VT.  She accompanied her husband Dr. Donald Tucker when he was stationed in Germany.  After returning to the US in 1969 she was antique dealer for many years until she became interested in country painted tin. She has had an avid interest in American painted tinware for over 45 years. She began painting country tin in 1973 and became a member of the Historical Society of Early American Decoration in 1976.  She was first introduced to country painting as an antique dealer.  Her years in the antique business gave access to large numbers of originals at auction, antique shows or through acquaintance with dealers specializing in decorated tin.  She studied and recorded originals from museums and private collectors as well as the antique show circuit.   

In 1985 Lois received HSEAD Teachers’ Certification in Country Painting, in 1987 for Stenciling and in 2005 in Free-hand Bronzing. She served on the HSEAD Standards and Judging Committee for over 20 years and was also the instructor of the country painting course for the HSEAD school. She currently serves as Chairman of the Penwork Standards and Judging Committee.  Lois was the meeting chairman for the society’s national conventions in Portland, ME (1986), Nashua, NH (1992), Ogunquit, ME (1997) and again in Portland (2004).   In 1994 she was the first to receive the Society’s Specialist Award presented to her for Country Painting.  She was honored by the presentation of the Society’s Research Award in 1996, and with the Career Award in 2001.   

 Lois is the co-author of American Painted Tinware, A Guide To Its Identification - Volumes I thru IV. She has given talks and presented demonstrations on country painting and other decorative techniques to local area historical societies and HSEAD chapters. She was the presenter on the Society’s Country Painting instructional video released in 2003. Lois is the recipient of numerous A-Awards in a variety of painting disciplines: country painting, stenciling on both tin and wood, reverse glass painting, free-hand bronze painting, penwork and velvet theorems.  She was still actively teaching students at the time of her death. 

She is survived by her husband, Dr. Donald Tucker; 3 daughters, Christine Becktoft, Michelle Grimmick and Donna Tucker Smith; son Phillip Becktoft, stepson Jeffrey Tucker; 6 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren; and sister Beth DeMatteo.

There will be no services at this time.