Benjamin Joseph Tucker of Kennewick, Washington, passed away Friday night, June 17, 2016. He was 17 years old. Ben was truly full of joy and happiness this past week. He experienced a sudden reaction to medication Friday evening. Ben is survived by his parents, Ron and Jackie Tucker; his sisters, Aimee and Sarah; his grandparents, Vi Tucker and Bill and Ann Owens; and many cousins, aunts, uncles, and friends. Ben was born on April 30, 1999, in Kennewick, Washington. He attended Lincoln Elementary School, Highlands Middle School, and Southridge High School, where he was an honor student and had just completed his junior year. Ben was an outstanding student who took Advanced Honors and AP courses. He was involved in engineering competitions, Science Bowl, and Boy Scouts. Ben was a talented musician, and he played trumpet in the school's concert and marching bands. He loved running, and was a member of the cross country and track teams at Southridge. Ben enjoyed archery, fishing, camping, weightlifting, playing sports of all kinds, and being with his friends. He had just spent a fun week at the Oregon coast with his cross country teammates, coaches, and Dad, and was looking forward to summer and his new job. In the words of his many friends, Ben was an amazing friend who was talented, smart, responsible, respectful, moral, athletic, kind, sweet, giving, and goofy. Ben will be greatly missed. A service celebrating Ben's life will be held on Wednesday, June 22, at Holy Spirit Parish, 7409 W. Clearwater Ave., Kennewick. Family and friends are invited to the church at 12:00 noon for an open-casket viewing, followed by a casket signing from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m., and Mass at 2:00 p.m. A reception will follow. Guests are encouraged to wear casual or team attire in Ben's high school colors of blue and gold, or their own school colors. There will also be a rosary for family and friends on Tuesday, June 21, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., followed by a viewing from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. at Mueller's Tri-Cities Funeral Home, 1401 S. Union St., Kennewick. At 8 a.m. on Friday, June 24, the Southridge Cross Country team will hold a tribute walk/run at Horse Heaven Hills park in honor of Ben. Details will be provided at the service. As we hold Ben's memory close, let us find and encourage within ourselves, and our community, the gifts that make each of us special: not star power, not intellectual prowess, but the ineffable mystery and extraordinary beauty of the human heart. Once a Sun, always a Sun. Shine bright, Ben.