Frankie Jean (Tuck) Dillard

DILLARD, Frankie Jean Tuck- 70, of Mechanicsville peacefully passed away on May 09, 2022. Her passing ended a 22-month decline in health that she navigated with grace, love, and humor. Frankie was raised in the Glen Lea area of Henrico with friends she cherished for a lifetime. Family in Tappahannock, King and Queen, and West Point added to her childhood joys. She was a 1970 graduate from Henrico High School and entered Ferrum College the following fall. Snared by her weakness for redheads, she soon returned to have a family with Johnny Dillard, her husband of 42 years until his passing. As Johnny’s constant companion, she developed a second family of devoted friends at Richmond Dragway where she was a spectator, cheering section, pit crew and team mother. Recruited by the in-law’s family business, Blackburn Mattress, Frankie continued her role as a constant companion to Johnny while also working in production as a skilled seamstress. When it was her turn to follow her passion, she pursued her artistic interests as a painter and touch-up artist at June McKenna Collectibles for over 15 years. She wrapped up her career with 17 years of service at Covenant Woods in dining services where her hospitality and concern for residents and coworkers earned her another family of beloved friends. Her retirement years were spent with summers at the pool, beach vacations, Garth Brooks and Dwight Yoakam concerts, and more opportunities to visit her family and friends. Her most unexpected thrill was meeting and loving her bonus family, the Deshazos, formed from Johnny’s earlier relationship with his high-school sweetheart.  A tall red-headed bonus son and his family loved her as their own Mama and Memaw. Frankie’s final chapter included devoted care from Pam, her adoring home health nurse, Diane, her daughter-in-love, Mary Catherine, her RN niece, and granddaughters Olivia and Laura.  Knowing her time was coming to a close, Frankie welcomed visits from family and friends daily during her 7 days in hospice care. Though weakened, she managed to share “I love you” until her final hours. Frankie was preceded in death by her husband, Johnny; parents, Frank, and Mary Ann Tuck; and brother, O.F. Tuck. Immediate survivors include her son, Tripp; his wife Diane; and their daughters, Olivia, and Laura Dillard. Her surviving siblings are her sister, Mary Dale Walker, and her brother, John Tuck.  Numerous nieces, grand-nieces, a nephew, and grand-nephews have known her warmth and kindness. The family will receive friends from 2 - 5 pm, Sunday, May 15, 2022, at Monaghan Funeral Home, 7300 Creighton Pkwy., Mechanicsville, VA 23111.  Those wishing to honor Frankie’s memory may consider gifts to support Mechanicsville Fire and Rescue Company 7, PO Box 515, Mechanicsville, VA 23111, or East Hanover Fire and Rescue Company 14, PO Box 454, Mechanicsville, VA 23111. 

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