TIDWELL, Jack Gillespie

The White Mountain Independent, Show Low, Arizona ~ October 4, 2007 Jack Gillespie Tidwell, 85, died peacefully at his home in Gilbert Saturday, Sept. 22, 2007. An Arizona native and longtime Gilbert resident, Jack came to the Valley from Solomonville, where he was born and raised. He left in his late teens to attend Northern Arizona University on a basketball scholarship. After two years, however, WWII began, and he moved to Mesa to help his father with the "new" farm. Jack soon met the love of his life, Norma, at a Mezona dance one night, and they were married within a few months. After beginning their family with three boys and a girl, they were devastated by a fire that burned their home to the ground. However, because of the generosity of the community and friends, they were able to build a beautiful new home on Catalina Street in Gilbert in the fall of 1956. After farming for many more years and selling insecticides for Southwest Co-op, Jack contracted insecticide poisoning. After a close bout with death, he was forced to quit farming. At this time, a good friend, Burt Brown, offered him a job selling cars at Brown and Brown Chevrolet in Mesa. Jack accepted the job, and for the next 12 years, became one of the dealership's top salesmen. When he finally retired from car sales, he started his own lawn service business that he continued until his health required him to discontinue everyone's lawns, except, of course, his own. Jack always found joy in being outside working the soil and bringing beauty to the earth. One of his favorite lines was "Isn't that purty?" referring to cotton fields, a fresh mowed lawn or a tree that overhung a driveway. He always appreciated the simple things in life and was most happy with a meal of bread and milk and a ballgame on the TV and that is how he left this earth: peacefully on his bed with a ballgame on the TV-and still on Catalina Street. "We'll miss you, Dad-you gave our lives meaning." He was preceded in death by his wife of 60 years, Norma Brimhall Tidwell. He is survived by his six children, Greg (Judy), Brad (Amber), Gill (Rosanne), Luann Ewan (Jim), Marysue Turley (Rick) and Melanie Fillingim (Don). Also surviving are 26 grandchildren, 41 great-grandchildren and Jack's identical twin, Jerry Tidwell. Services for Jack were held in Gilbert. Arrangements were handled by Bueler Mortuary.