Mary Hill Tucker of Oak Bluffs died peacefully on March 14 at the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital, four days shy of her 103rd birthday

She was born on March 18, 1918, in West Chester, Pa., the fifth of six daughters to Leslie Pinckney Hill and Jane Clark Hill

She graduated from West Chester High School in 1935. Upon graduation, she attended Howard University, pledged to the Alpha Kappa Alpha (AKA) sorority, and pursued the academic nursing program. Ultimately, she finished her nursing degree at The Lincoln School for Nursing in New York city, making lifelong friends along the way.

In 1937, Mary married Herbert E. of Tucker Jr. of Boston and went on to a successful and fulfilling 25-year career as a registered nurse at Massachusetts General Hospital.

As a young mother of two small children, Gwendolyn and Gretchen, she was fortunate to have a loving community of family to support her career endeavors. In time, she became the proud grandmother of two grandchildren, Gretchen M. Mercer and Richard (Peter) Gilbert Wharton Jr.

The Tuckers made homes in Roxbury and Wellesley for several years before moving full-time to Oak Bluffs in the late 1960s. On Martha’s Vineyard, Mary enjoyed the Inkwell as much as the East Chop Beach Club. Her collection of beach glass attests to the time she spent there. She also enjoyed gardening, playing bridge, reading, needlepoint and being in the company of family and friends.

She was a member of Grace Episcopal Church where she served on the altar guild, originated the idea for the Burgess stained glass windows, donated the church steeple, but most memorably started the lobster roll program which became a major fund raiser for the church.

Mary loved the Vineyard and credited her long life to living here with her doting husband of 70 years and for forming relationships with young people.

She was predeceased by her husband Herbert, her daughter Gwendolyn Wharton and great-grandson Tristan Tucker Mercer. She is survived by her daughter Gretchen Tucker Underwood; grandchildren Gretchen Mercer and Peter Wharton; great-grandsons Jason and Brandon Mercer; nieces Judith Lindsay, Lila Rideau, Gail Snowden; nephews Leslie Hill Nelson and Frank M. Snowden; and a host of great-grand nieces and nephews.

Because of Covid requirements, services will be private but available to all on webcam on Saturday, March 27 starting at 12:30 p.m. The link is https://www.graceepiscopalmv.org/ The actual service will begin at 1 p.m.

Donations can be made to Grace Episcopal Church, Box 1197, Vineyard Haven, MA. 02568.