Mary Xavier Tucek Preston
Mary Xavier Tucek Preston, 99, passed away, surrounded by her family on Sunday, March 20, 2022, in Carencro, Louisiana. She was born November 3, 1922, in Dallas, Texas, to Charles Joseph Tucek, Sr. and Daisy Marie Ruff Tucek and twin sister to former pastor of St. John Nepomucene Catholic Church in Ennis, Texas, Rev. Msgr. James I. Tucek.
Mary attended and graduated from high school at St. Edward Academy in Dallas, Texas. She was trained and graduated from St. Paul School of Nursing in Dallas, as a Registered Nurse, where she met her future husband. She was soon accepted into the U.S. Navy as an Ensign. Mary was a WWII veteran and was stationed at Balboa Hospital in San Diego, California, during her military career.
After an honorable discharge from the Navy in 1945, Mary married William Lacy Preston and worked in several medical facilities in Dallas while raising their four sons. She worked as a Registered Nurse at St. Paul Hospital, as a Physical Therapist at Medical Arts Hospital and as a Private Duty Nurse for individuals around the Dallas area, becoming the President of the Private Duty Nurse’s Association. After these duties, Mary went to work for Wadley Blood Center at Baylor Hospital in Dallas. During the time she spent in nursing and raising her family, she was also the bookkeeper for the family florist business in downtown Dallas, Flowers, Inc.
Moving to Ennis, Texas, in the late 1970s, Mary worked at IOOF Nursing Home and later at Ennis Care Center. While in Ennis, she attended St. John Nepomucene Catholic Church and was a member of the Catholic Daughters of America.
After a lifetime of nursing in various forms and stages, Mary retired. She enjoyed traveling to see many of her nieces and nephews, as well as her four sons, who lived in different parts of the United States. Mary eventually settled back in Dallas until she moved to Carencro, Louisiana, with one of her sons and his family.
Mary enjoyed a full and active life and very much loved her four sons, their wives, her 11 grandchildren, 17 great grandchildren and four great great grandchildren. She was loved very dearly by her family and will be greatly missed.
Mary was preceded in death by her husband, William L. Preston; her twin brother, Rev. Msgr. James I. Tucek; her parents; sister, Margaret Tucek Hooper; brother, Charles Joseph Tucek, Jr.; son, Col. James Joseph Preston, USMC and granddaughter, Amy Christine Preston Casalvo.
She is survived by three sons: William Lacy Preston, Jr. and wife, Vickie, Michael Anthony Preston and wife, Evelyn, and Thomas Andrew Preston and wife, Teralena; daughter in law, Jeannie Preston; 10 grandchildren: Joshua Preston and wife, Annette, Lt. Col. Justin Preston, USAF, and wife, Kimberly, John Derrick (J.D.) and Jacob Preston, Rebecca Preston, Susan Preston, Jennifer McDonnell and husband, Kevin, Benjamin and wife, Juliana, Timothy and Hailey Preston; 17 great grandchildren, four great great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
Mary’s sons recall her wicked sense of humor. Prior to injecting penicillin into her boys when they were young to fight some infection or illness, she would say, “One for the money, two for the show, three to get ready and four to go!” or “This is going to hurt you more than it does me!” Mary’s sons will always remember her fondly.
Rosary was held at St. John Nepomucene Catholic Church on Friday, March 25, 2022, at 9:15 a.m. Mass of Christian Burial followed, also at St. John Nepomucene Catholic Church in Ennis, Texas, at 10 a.m.
Interment followed at Calvary Hill Cemetery in Dallas, Texas, at 1 p.m.
