November 9, 1916 –  February 15, 2014  Vera Bell (Vice) Rucktashel passed away in Gainesville, Texas on February 15, 2014. She was 97 years old.Vera was born on November 9, 1916 in Montague County to Ed & Dona Vice. She was the third of their six children. Vera lived in North Central Texas her entire life. When she was a teenager, her family moved from Fort Worth to Nocona, Texas, where she met and later married E.C. Rucktashel on December 18, 1937.
Vera and “Ruck” made their home in Gainesville, where they raised their family and were charter members of Temple Baptist Church. Vera is survived by their two daughters, Nicky L. Santos and Monty G. Womack, both of Gainesville. She is also the proud Grandmother of five grandchildren, Lianne McDaniel and husband, Roy, of Sealy, Texas, Amanda Crawford and husband, Brian, of Fort Worth, Texas, Monica Johnson and husband, Michael, of Arlington, Texas, Bill Womack and wife, LaDonna, of Bixby, Oklahoma, and David T. Santos, and wife, Olga, of Hurst, Texas. All of her grandkids have fond memories of summer vacations spent with their grandparents, and going to picnics in the park and to the local zoo. Vera is also survived by 12 great-grandchildren, five great-great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews. She loved nothing more than having her grandchildren come visit, and the feeling was mutual. She was a very influential and positive role model to all of them and their children that followed.
She and Ruck opened their home and cared for several relatives over the years, including her father and his mother, whom they took care of in their home for the latter years of their lives. They also provided lodging and a home atmosphere to several of the local junior college students over the years after their girls had grown up and moved away.
Vera was preceded in death by her husband, as well as, her parents, three sisters: Iva Gibson, Era McGrew, and Ruby Skaggs, and her two brothers: Raymond Vice and Archie Vice.
Vera retired from the Texas Youth Commission Gainesville State School in 1981 as one of the first female supervisors; she had many colorful stories to tell of her experiences there. After her retirement, she also served several years as a volunteer at Gainesville Memorial Hospital.
Vera loved being around people and spending time with her family and friends. She was a member of several social groups which played table games, and also enjoyed playing “42” with family and friends. She had a great sense of humor and often attributed her long life to the love of laughter and playing games with others. She was an excellent seamstress and sewed her daughter’s wedding dress and senior prom dress from patterns that they designed and she created. She took up crocheting and piecing quilts after she retired.
She and her husband were very active members at Temple Baptist Church; it was the hub of their social life. Vera was one of the few surviving charter members at the time of her death.
Funeral services for Vera Bell Rucktashel will be held at 2:00 P.M. Tuesday, February 18, 2014 at Temple Baptist Church, with Rev. Eddie Chennault officiating. Interment will follow at Fairview Cemetery. Services are under the direction of Meador Clement-Keel Funeral Home. Visitation will be held Monday, February 17, 2014 from 7 until 8 P.M. at the funeral home.