Janet Meserve Tidwell's Obituary
Obituary
Janet Meserve Tidwell, 80, of Lost Bridge Village, Garfield, AR passed away at home on Friday, November 6, 2018. A memorial service will be held on Friday, November 16, 2018, at 2:30 p.m. at Village Presbyterian Church, 6641 Mission Road, Prairie Village, KS. A reception will follow at the church.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial donations to The Alzheimers Association. Details are listed below.
Janet is survived by her devoted husband of 60 years, W. Ted Tidwell. She was a wonderful mother to her two sons: Brant W. Tidwell (Lucy) of Prairie Village, KS, who preceded her in death, and Scott A. Tidwell (Missy) of Centennial, CO. Other survivors: Her brother Lt. Col. (Ret.) G. Donald Meserve, Jr. (Dee), Apple Valley, CA and brother-in-law Michael K. Tidwell (Liz), South Padre Island, TX. She also was preceded in death by her parents, Lt. Col. (Ret.) G. Donald and Doris F. Meserve.
She was “Nana” to her five grandchildren: Aubrey L. Walker (Trevor), Austin, TX; W. Foster Tidwell (Allison), Chicago, IL; Samuel S. Tidwell (Megan), Winnipeg, Canada; Calvin W. Tidwell (Nicole), Kansas City, MO., and Taylor L. Tidwell, Denver, CO; and to four great-grandchildren: Lily, Wills, August and Teddy and to her many nieces and nephews.
Janet was born in Marlborough, MA. Her father was in the United States Air Force. While she was a child, her family moved frequently to new Air Force bases, always with her older brother “Dee” as her sidekick...and sometimes as her partner in “kiddie crime.” They lived in many places including three years in Newfoundland. When her father retired, her family moved to Shawnee Mission, KS. Janet attended Shawnee Mission High School for four years and made many enduring friendships there. She attended the University of Kansas where she was a member of Gamma Phi Beta sorority.
At KU in early 1958, her brother, Dee, asked Janet to find Ted a party date among her sorority sisters. She immediately responded, “I’ll go!” They quickly fell in love and were married in December, 1958.
She was the epitome of a devoted wife and mother. She took joy in supporting and actively participating in Ted’s every endeavor. Her sons, Brant and Scott, were the joy of her life, and they say she was the perfect Mom. She loved participating in her community . . . Gamma Phi Beta alums, school volunteer, museum docent, Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts Mothers Clubs, football mom, and hospital volunteer, among others. She loved making hand-made items for her boys’ activities, including down coats for both and a Scout camping tent. And she particularly loved using her artistic and creative talents to make beautiful hand hooked, and treasured, rugs for her family.
Janet and Ted spent the 60 years of their wonderful marriage taking care of each other. They truly honored the wedding vow “’Til death do us part.”
Janet was always considered a gracious, classy and thoughtful hostess. She had a great, spunky sense of humor and a fun-loving streak.
Her daughters-in-law, Lucy and Missy, learned so much from her and valued the support and love she showered on them and her grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to the Alzheimers Association, 5506 West Walsh Lane, St. 212, Rogers, AR, or to your local Alzheimers chapter.
At 2:30 p.m., November 16, the entire service will be live-streamed from the Village Church. Copy and paste the following website into your browser.
https://www.villagepres.org/current-sermon-seriessermon-archives.html
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