The New Era - All about Sweet Home since 1929

Sept. 12, 1928 - Jan. 18, 2019

Vernon "Bud" Tidwell, 90, of Sweet Home died Jan. 18, 2019.

He was born Sept. 12, 1928 in Clarendon, Texas to James Veto and Opal Delena (Folley) Tidwell.

He served in the United States Army beginning Oct. 25, 1950 and was honorably discharged Oct. 16, 1952.

Mr. Tidwell lived in Portales, N.M.; Picacho, Ariz.; Penny's Camp outside of East Highlands; then back to Picacho; then to Washington state and Oregon, finally settling in Sweet Home in 1958.

Mr. Tidwell was a member of the Masonic Lodge. He worked as a heavy machine operator for road construction. He retired from logging with Willamette Industries.

During retirement he drove what he called "the old people" around in the Senior Shuttle.

Mr. Tidwell enjoyed fishing, hunting and bowling. He was a great bowler.

Until a year ago, he was going out, cutting down, hauling and splitting firewood.

Mr. Tidwell is survived by his wife, Mae Tidwell of Sweet Home; children Gwen Reynolds of Scio. James Tidwell of Cascadia, and Rhonda Kurtz of Atlanta, Ga; brothers George "Boots" Tidwell, Billie Tidwell, and James "Hubba" Tidwell; sisters Verna "Sug" McCay – his twin, and Dolores Ward; eight grandchildren; and 18 great-grandchildren.

Mr. Tidwell was preceded in death by his son Darrell Vernon Tidwell, in a logging accident; and sister Colleen.

A celebration of life reception will be held at 5 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 26, at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Sweet Home. Military honors will take place at 5:30 p.m.

Sweet Home Funeral Chapel is handling the arrangements.