Greta Lou ( DeShazo ) Tidwell's Obituary
Greta Lou (DeShazo) Tidwell died in Richardson, Texas, on February 18, 2025. Greta was a loving wife, mother, sister, aunt, grandmother, and great grandmother.
Greta was born May 30, 1933, in Pampa, Texas, to Homer L. and Mary (Rogers) DeShazo. She graduated from Kermit High School in Kermit, Texas, where she played the tenor saxophone in the band and served as the band’s drum major her senior year. She was a member of First Baptist Church, Kermit, where she was baptized.
After high school she attended Hardin-Simmons University, class of ’55, where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree. While at HSU she was a member of the famous “Cowgirls” from 1952-1955 and served as drum major her senior year.
During her time at HSU Greta met and fell in love with Nolan Tidwell. Greta and Nolan were married on August 31, 1957, in Kermit. The newlyweds lived in Borger, Texas, before moving to Richardson in 1962 and joining First Baptist Church, Richardson, in 1964. Greta taught 2nd grade for 20 years, serving in the Seminole, Snyder, Borger, and Richardson school districts.
Greta had a sweet spirit that she shared with everyone she met. She loved the Lord and demonstrated her faith in Christ by the way she lived her life as a godly wife and mother. She gave everything for her family, including a pause for several years in her teaching career so she could be at home to raise three kids. She and Nolan both spent countless hours attending their children’s soccer and baseball games as well as all of the band concerts and other school events. Her love of band inspired all of her children and grandchildren to learn an instrument and participate in their school bands and orchestras.
For the grandkids the door was always open at Grandma’s house! Many summer days, holidays, and weekends were spent there playing Slip-n-Slide and games in the backyard, exploring the dress up box, enjoying toys and books from “Grandma’s Toy Closet,” or creating shows with singing and choreographed dance routines which were videotaped or performed live for Grandma and Grandpa.
After her teaching career Greta enjoyed antiquing, her dogs, attending her grandkids various activities, and spending time with her family. She will be greatly missed.
Greta is preceded in death by her parents, Homer and Mary DeShazo, and her brother, Gary DeShazo. She is survived by her loving husband of 67 years, Nolan Tidwell, son Kent Tidwell and wife Denise, daughter Cara Davis and husband Paul, daughter Dana Maners and husband Ken, grandchildren Shelby Solberg and husband Erik, Emma Tidwell, Colin Tidwell and wife Jennifer, Jessie Davis, Jay Davis, Marissa Monjaras Salazar and husband Dom, Michael Maners, great grandchildren, Hayes and Harris Solberg, niece, Donna Schnitman, and nephew, Gil DeShazo.
We want to express our sincere thanks to Bristol Hospice and the staff at Medical City Dallas. And finally, a very special thank you to Andrea Sneed who has been Greta’s home health care provider for the past year. Andrea has been such a blessing to our family, caring for our mother as if she were her own.
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