Dorothy Perryman Rucker, 94, passed away peacefully on December 8, 2020, at her home with family by her side.

Dot, as she was known to her family and friends, was born in Huntsville, Ala., then moved to Chattanooga when she was a toddler. She was the daughter of the late Haskell Delosier Perryman and Ethel Grindstaff Perryman.

She was preceded in death by her husband Dallas Young Rucker, Sr.; her sister-in-law Addie Sue Rucker; her sister Mildred Fox; and her brother-in-law Carroll Fox, all from Chattanooga.

Dot attended school at Normal Park Elementary, Northside Junior High School, and Chattanooga High School. She served as president of the Normal Park Parent Teacher Association when her first child attended school there. She earned an Associate Degree in Home Economics from Sullins College in Bristol, Va. Although she dreamed of being a flight attendant and traveling the world, her first job was as a teller at American National Bank. She insisted that her checkbook balance to the penny until her passing.

She married Dallas in 1948 and together they built a contracting business. She served as bookkeeper, designer, and lunch caterer for the operation. While she would have been more than capable at running anything she chose to do, her profession was mother and grandmother. She agreed with Dallas that her greatest treasures were her children and grandchildren. She attended every school event, play, ballgame, karate match, band halftime show and chorus performance. She endured organ, violin, viola, clarinet, trumpet, tuba and trombone practices and could always be counted on for a costume, a batch of cookies, or a word of encouragement. She lovingly collected each child's business card as they went out into the world, and updated them as they progressed in their careers.

She loved family trips to the beach. Her idea of a perfect morning was coffee with conversation on an oceanfront deck. After each trip, she prepared pages for a scrapbook describing the house (as only the wife of a contractor could) and each day's activities accompanied by pictures and captions. One of her favorite beach activities was working jigsaw puzzles. That love grew to include an annual Christmas puzzle. She passed many of her last hours working puzzles on her iPad.

She was also a devoted Christian who did her very best to live her Christian beliefs. She attended First Presbyterian Church and was a member of the Poindexter Sunday School Class. She shared that faith with her children and grandchildren. She had the gift of hospitality and loved entertaining her friends and family with dinners followed by conversation and always dessert. She almost always had a carrot cake in her freezer, ready to be iced and shared as needed.

She is survived by her children, Shelley Vey (Glen), Dallas Rucker, Jr. (Donna), Nancy Rucker, and Joy Rucker Clements; grandchildren, Alex Vey (Lindsay Nyhoff) of Atlanta, Adeline Rucker, Dallas P. Rucker, and Charles Y. Rucker, and Hayden Clements; and niece Shauna Oden (Bill) of Loudon, Tn., and nephew Lawson Fox (Betsy Carter) of 2 Reno, Nev.; and grandnephews Carter Fox (Jenn), Reno, Nev., and Chris Fox, Reno, Nev.

A graveside service will be held at 3:30 PM on Friday, December 11, 2020, at Chattanooga Memorial Park Cemetery.

The family will have a private viewing prior to the graveside service.

All family and friends are welcome to attend the masked and socially-distanced graveside service.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Tennessee 4-H Foundation (Hamilton County), 2621 Morgan Circle, 205 Morgan Hall, Knoxville, TN 37996, or First Presbyterian Church, 554 McCallie Avenue, Chattanooga, TN 37402.

Arrangements are made by Hamilton Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 4506 Hixson Pike, Hixson, (423) 531-3975