Ina Marie Tucker Davis Bratcher, 95, of Owensboro, died Friday, November 14, 2025 at the Heartford House. She was born January 29, 1930 to the late Carey Estill and Ninnie Armes Tucker, in Breckenridge County. She graduated from Breckenridge County High School. After graduating, Ina moved to Owensboro and began her career at General Electric, where she became a member of the local AFL-CIO union. She served as a steward and on the Executive Board, as well as serving on the board of the employee United Way Fund. Ina retired from General Electric/MPD after working there for 40 years.
In 1962, Ina became a member of Walnut Street Baptist Church. She served as a Sunday School teacher and Director of the Children’s Department. Ina and her husband, Otto, eventually became members of Bellevue Baptist Church, where they were faithful members. She helped with serving meals on Wednesday nights.
Ina enjoyed going on mission trips with members of her church family. After a mission trip to Niger, West Africa, it was learned that many young children were dying for lack of food. With the help of friends, church family, and a sister church, the Goat Project Fund was started and over $1,700 was raised for the people of Niger to purchase goats to provide food and milk for the needy. After returning from a second missionary trip to Ukraine in 2003, Ina began a quilting ministry with other members of the church. They made quilts and sent them to orphanages in Ukraine, as well as to other countries. The quilting club continues to this day with younger leaders, and quilts are donated to local shelters and to missionaries to take to foreign countries where they serve.
Ina was an active member of the Western Kentucky Friendship Force, traveling as a Goodwill Ambassador. Ina traveled to more than 90 countries, 50 states, and had been to all 7 continents. Ina served as a volunteer at the local hospital for 30 years, beginning in 1994, and was a member of the OMHS Auxiliary. She was a member of the Elizabeth Munday Senior Citizens Center and the General Electric Retirement Club.
As a longtime member of the Owensboro Regional Farmer’s Market, Ina enjoyed interacting with the vendors and patrons. Some of her favorite times were spent in the garden picking green beans and tending to her blackberries.
In addition to her parents, Ina was preceded in death by her husband, Justus Otto Bratcher; sister, Nellie Carman Duncan; brother, Carey Stephen Tucker, and nephew, Larry A. Carman.
She is survived by her son, Kenneth L. Davis and wife Lisa; grandsons, Brad (Hannah) Davis, and Jeff Davis; great grandchildren, Braiden Davis and Aubree Davis; brother, Edward Ray Tucker; sister-in-law, Effie Reymond; and several nieces and nephews. In addition to her family, she leaves behind many old and new friends, including Bessie Fort, Melody Delk, and Millie Claypool.
Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 22, 2025 at Bellevue Baptist Church. Burial will follow in Rosehill Cemetery. Visitation is from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Friday and from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m. on Saturday at Bellevue Baptist Church.
Expressions of sympathy may take the form of donations to the Quilting Ministry of Bellevue Baptist Church, 4950 KY 56, Owensboro, KY 42301.
The family would like to give special thanks to the hospice doctors, nurses, and nursing assistants at the Heartford House for the excellent care and compassion provided.