Our Story

Ella Mae Tucker was born to Rosa M. and Arthur Maupin in Butler, Bates Co., Missouri on September 17, 1910. She was the oldest of four children. Ella Mae started teaching school at age 16 and went on to attend Southwest Missouri Teachers College (now SMSU), in Springfield. There she met and married Byron Tucker, the son of a circuit riding Baptist minister. They had one daughter, Norma Jean.

Ella Mae taught school until the early 40's. After World War II they moved to Hollywood where she worked as an extra in the movies for several years. In the late 1940's they returned to the Ozarks and bought a farm in Stone County. There she began her career as a columnist for the Springfield News-Leader. Ella Mae wrote hundreds of articles through a variety of columns. Her three most popular were "Garden Guide," Recipe Exhange, and her most popular column, "Out Our Way."

During the early 1960's Ella Mae and Byron opened and operated the photography and print shop at Silver Dollar City. During that period she wrote several cook books in her spare time, including "Dear Daughter" and "High On The Hog." Ella Mae retired in 1990 after a 40 year career as a writer.

We hope you enjoy Ella Mae's books and share them with your friends and neighbors.