Martha Eleanore Ritchie

Martha "Eleanore" Tucker was born on May 14, 1933 in Big Sandy, TX to Ivor and Irene Tucker. She and her older sister, Delores were raised in Gladewater, TX where she graduated from Gladewater High in 1951. Following her sister she moved to Ft. Worth after high school and soon met David Borg through mutual friends whom she married in 1952. They had three children, Debbie, Donna and David in the 1950's who they raised in a small home in Lake Worth, TX. As the family grew they were able to move into a larger home on Hiawatha Trail where many memories were made. Wonderful birthday parties and holiday celebrations as well as first proms, graduations and many friend sleepovers took place there. She always made sure holidays, birthdays and summers at the lake were made memorable through the years. She was a Christian and attended Lake Worth Baptist Church and she made sure her family attended regularly with all her children being baptized there. Her faith and devotion to them was shown in everything she did and she will be remembered for the exceptional way she took care of them all.

After her children were grown her life changed and she was divorced from David, had a brief second marriage to Bud Ritchie and began working for the Lake Worth School District. She began as a teachers aid and worked her way up to a secretarial position at Effie Morris Elementary school. These years were cherished by her as she made numerous friends and loved her job. She was devoted to it and loved by many she worked with during the 25 years she spent there. She began collecting music boxes at this time and from teachers and students alike acquired over a hundred or more through the years.

Eleanore had a smile that was infectious and never had a bad word to say about anyone. Her beautiful demeanor and optimistic way of looking at life were evident to all that knew her. Unfortunately at 59 she had a mild stroke that affected her short term memory. After returning to work she realized she couldn’t keep up with the hectic pace a school principal’s office requires. So she retired in 1993. For the next 20 years she enjoyed traveling with her girlfriends and spending lots of time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Her grandchildren have memories of being picked up after school and taken to Long John Silvers, one of her favorite places to eat, and she always had to have a corn on the cob! She loved going for ice cream cones and snow cones. Going to sports and school events were a treat for her. Her grandkids were born from 1973 to 1994 so there were always little ones as the older ones grew up. She had a ball with all of them and they all have enough memories and stories to last a lifetime.

In later years she developed dementia that progressed resulting in the need for her to go into nursing care around 2017 but she never lost that beautiful smile and welcomed all that she encountered with it until she passed on the morning of Feb.26, 2022 at the age of 88.

Surviving are her children, daughters Debbie and husband Gene Malone, Donna and husband Jack Alexander and son David Borg. Grandchildren, Eric Alexander, Justin Alexander and wife Fallon, Haley Ricketts and partner Chris, Megan and husband Manuel Rodriguez and Isaac Malone. Many great grandchildren: Tyler and Jake Alexander, Kaden Alexander and wife Keeley, Kaitlin Alexander, Emmett Alexander, Hayes Alexander, Ryder Ricketts and Case Henderson. One great-great grandson Layne Alexander and one on the way Baby Smith.

May we never forget her kind and loving ways.