Presiding Officer: Henry B. Roskelley

 

Opening Song: “Oh My Father” Choir

 

Prayer: Alfred Ainscough

Our Father in Heaven, we a few of thy children assemble this afternoon to pay our respect to one of our brothers who has passed on before us.  We pray that Thou wilt bless us with thy spirit.  Bless those who take part, that they may be inspired.  Bless those who are called to mourn at this time, with every blessing for their good.  Comfort them on their journey through life, that they may live accordingly to the example lived by their father.  These blessings we humbly ask for in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

 

Duet: “Going Home” Rebecca and Florence Lewis

 

First Speaker: Dr. H. B. Daines

Sister Tidwell and family of Brother Tidwell, I consider it an honor to be called upon to speak a few words here, and it is indeed a very hard thing for me to say very much at the present time.

 

I have enjoyed very greatly the friendship of this family during the past year.  Anyone wanting to cultivate friendship will find it here.

 

I have seen Brother Tidwell go through a very hard ordeal.  I am sure most of us have never been called upon to go through as much as he has.  It is a relief to all who have watched him suffer.  He is at rest.  I am sure the family will be reconciled to his passing away.  It is hard to part with him.  I am sure he has been worth all of the work and care he has made for them the last year.  He has taken much of their time.  It has been a very hard ordeal to do the things they have had to do.  I am sure they must have received an example from him that is a lesson to them.  They were devoted to him.  His life has been a benefit to the family.  His remembrance will be with us until we see him again.

 

We also realize the help and care and friendship of neighbors.  I am sure that I can be with them to express my appreciation to them with their kindness and patience with him.

 

May our Heavenly Father bless them in their hour of trial I pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

 

Second Speaker: George Done

I am please to have the opportunity and honor of saying a few words at Brother Tidwell’s funeral.  I have known him all my life.  I can’t remember when I didn’t know Brother Tidwell, his wife and his mother and father and Sister Tidwell’s mother and father.  K knew them all.  Men and women that came here purposely for the Gospel of Jesus Christ and who led them and gave their lives for it.  You younger generation of these families will remember that the fathers and mother have done all that they could do to establish you here in the valley of the mountains to partake of the gospel.  I sometimes feel we can’t realize what they went through to establish the homes here.

 

I can remember back in the youth of these people as women and men and the joy they used to have in their young lives.  They had a desire in their hearts to make this valley as it is today.  Smithfield City has been their home and they have been more fortunate in it than many families.

 

This is the first break in the family, being privileged to live together as man and wife for over 55 years.  Very few live together this many years.  They are fortunate.  Most fortunate of all, being born in the gospel.

 

Brother Tidwell had the spirit of missionary work.  They lived to have had children fill missions to parts of the earth.  We feel thankful to meet with people of this kind.  We will feel lonesome without him.  Most of the young men and women in my time are taken.  How long will our time be?  We know not.  As long as I am permitted to live, I hope that I can heed the teachings as Brother Tidwell and Brother Nelson and other older people do.  It is wonderful to know the standbys of the men and women who have been faithful and true to the end.

 

I am thankful I got home in time for the funeral.  I called on him before leaving so that I could see him before he went.  Boys, remember your parents.  Those who have got fathers and mothers sealed as father and mother in the eternal world.  Bless those who are sick among us that they may be blessed with They Holy Spirit, I ask in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

 

Third Speaker: Bishop C. J. Plowman

To Sister Tidwell, to the boys and girls, to the many friends and relations, I wish to express my appreciation for this privilege that has been given me to make a few remarks at the funeral service of the one with whom I have been personally acquainted with for over 69 years, lived neighbors with, and worked with side by side.

 

It has not been my privilege, as I remember, to notice the family of boys and girls who have been so devoted to their mother and father during his long illness.  I know of no other family who has done as the family of Sister Tidwell.  I have occasion to know this as I have passed their home at all hours of the day and have always found the family there willing to do service.  Boys and girls, may the Lord bless you that your children, in turn, may show the kindness and devotion to you as you have shown to your father and mother during his long illness.

 

There are many good things I have observed in the lives of this good father and mother, my very next door neighbor, as I have associated with them.  I have been acquainted with them for over half a century.  Boys and girls of Brother Royal, remember your father and walk in his footsteps.  I have always know him by the name, Royal.

 

They were willing to furnish means to send their boys into the mission field.  It was my privilege to labor in this ward as a member of the bishopric.  We visited Brother Tidwell’s home and asked if it would be possible to send their son into the field to preach the gospel.  We told them to thin it over.  The answer we got was, “We do not nee3ed time to think it over.  We will furnish means for our sons to go into the mission field.”  We are sending many young men and women into the world to preach the gospel.

 

Some things I have known in this, my friend.  It was my privilege to be on the building committee when this house was erected.  Royal Tidwell was one that was in my district.  It was necessary to visit these districts because of means.  I remember well upon one occasion that would testify a communi6y builder.  When he saw me coming, he said, “How much is it this time?”  Always willing to do his part or more.  There was no occasion for Sister Tidwell to tell him it was necessary.  I am sure the records will show that he gave 100% in the building up of this community.

 

During his lifetime he has accomplished much.  These things are appreciated more than I can tell.  He believed in the principles of the Gospel.  He had a testimony of the Gospel.  He lived the principles of the gospel.  He wanted others to know the truth.  If it were not so he wouldn’t have spent his time as he did.

 

I again thank the family for the privilege of meeting with you on this occasion.  Perhaps there never has been a greater blessing that has come to anyone than our friends at this time.

 

The Lord has seen fit to call him home so he can rest.  He has been sorely afflicted.  He has gone home.  You to that woman who gave him life and put him upon the earth.  May the blessing of the father be upon Sister Tidwell.  Lonesome you.  Sorrowful you.  She has served him faithful for over 16 months, when he hasn’t been able to take care of himself.

 

Alton, I commend you.  You have rendered great service to your Grandma and Grandpa during his illness, to give up the pleasures of youth and stay there.  May the Lord pour out his blessings upon you, Sister Tidwell and all, I ask in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

 

Duet: “End of a Perfect Day” Hilma Corbridge and Lowell Smith

 

Fourth Speaker: Albert McCann

I consider it a distinct honor given me by the family to ask that I participate in this day and make a few remarks of my neighbor and friend, and also my quorum associate.  It well not be with my thought of eulogy.

 

I’d like to bring to your attention some things we might consider while we are together and further complete the work that Brother Tidwell has begun.  I have known him as long as I can recall anyone. Twelve years just across the street.  Before that time, we lived just across the way.  There we received good evidence of the value of a real neighbor.  The good that we received from Brother Tidwell would stimulate anyone.  I consider him one of the successes in life. Successful in his agricultural pursuit.  He took very good care of his farm.  He believed in beautifying his home, making it a desirable place to live.

 

He has sent four boys on missions.  He made all the contributions a man could possible make with limited means and ability.  He was not an educated man in training, but educated in heart.  Sister Tidwell looked well to the education and cultivation of his heart and did all she could for his pleasure, comfort, and convenience.  Sixteen months of constant suffering.  Through his illness, and confining to his home, he had love and tender nursing.  He had reached the four score mark in years.  This is the first break in the family.  He has grand children and great grand children, all established in the faith.  Brother Done referred to his parents and Sister Tidwell’s parents.  I recall the very feeling in this community.  They were among the bulwark who established satisfaction as much as a tree in a community could yield.  It all comes out in these fine boys and girls.

 

There wasn’t a better kept home.  The original homestead was just right.  Flowers properly pruned and plucked.  We all look upon him as a man of young appearance.  He might have lived another ten or twenty years.  When he found a wife he thought he would step aside.  He got a little home and small plot of land near town.  It the blossomed into a rose.

 

I know they say it’s poverty

It may be of a kind.

I haven’t much that looks like wealth

But I don’t seem to mind.

 

For roses bloom around my door

And far as I can see

Trees and flowers are everywhere

And robins sing to me.

 

And one day as I wrote my lines

I had a taste of bliss.

A child peeked in my open door

And waited me a kiss.

 

And I can hear and laugh and feel,

And think and talk and see,

And walk a mile of highland, so

It can’t be poverty.

 

He planted, not the fast growing plants, but the kind that would endure.  It takes an oak 100 years to mature, but the mushroom will grow over night, but the mushroom will go down and the oak will go on and on.  He looked into the future and did well.  He looked satisfaction in the face and supplied himself accordingly.  He learned the lesson not in school but in absorption.  He used to the best of advantage the tools he had, and made the best of his opportunities.  He wasn’t pessimistic.  If I can put forth an effort it will yield abundant efforts to me.

 

Sister Tidwell stood loyally by the man.  She has been away from the house twice in 16 months.  What a satisfaction to know she has been loyal and true in abundance to the end.  I never knew them to complain about poverty.  He felt like this, “I don’t seem to mind poverty.”

 

I think he had the ability to do most anything he said.  He couldn’t address an audience.  He reason was, “They just didn’t call on me.”  He was ready to give of the utmost.  He gave means in a building way.  He contributed in everything in our community, in life.  He reminds me of one of two men:

 

Two men went seeking happiness.  One walked the roadside way and looked with all his longing eyes within each garden gay.  Where he saw it growing, he tried to pluck its flower out each time but in his clutching hand they died within an hour.  With angry and despair, in bitterness he cried, “To others is given happiness.  To me it is denied.”

 

The other one looked around him.  Since happiness is found in other people’s gardens why not within my ground.  He dug and planted and with much careful toil, where it as rough and stony, enriched each inch of soil, until with crowded blossoms the little spot overran.  “How simple it is,” said Brother Tidwell, “to be a happy man.”

 

I’m sure if he were asked to define the present adverse conditions of the country he would not do so by complaining but would express more in the words of Clara Hora Park in the lines entitled “Poverty” which I have given.

 

It was up to him and within his reach.  When we think, it won’t be long before we will go and work with him.  Brother Tidwell went thru a very hard ordeal.  He passed with the thoughts of the resurrection.  Let us make good our possibilities as he has done.  As the years roll on, clouds will be covered with sunshine, but only when the rain comes will we see the clearest light.  We must live through the winter before we see the spring.  Lips that have tasted sweet must also taste the bitter.  Out of either comes heaven.

 

I’d like to dedicate the sentiments to the family.  I was sorry I was not able to attend the Golden Wedding Anniversary.  I was called to Salt Lake.  Brother Tidwell replaced the old worn out wedding ring.  After fifty years, again he could do a thing of that kind and say, “My bride is as sweet as fifty years ago.”

 

The ills and aches come and go.  I think for us as men and women we must overcome the difficulties of life and the ills.  Cast aside and go on and on and let the honeymoon never die.  Mr. Tidwell is 80 years of age, four score years.  He is laid away so fine.  Look at the lovely spray Sister Tidwell had placed on the casket, “My Darling.”  They have had a successful voyage, and it seems to me that the sunset is beautiful.

 

I pray the Lord to be with these children and Sister Tidwell and that she may enjoy the reward she has so long earned.   There must be lots of rugged by paths.

May we get the proper vision of life, and through his example, remain and continue faithful to the end.  The blessing of the Lord I humbly pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

 

Solo: “Lay my Head Beneath a Rose” Mrs. E. B. Ludquist

 

Fifth Speaker: George G. Nelson, Bishop

Since the passing of Uncle Royal, I have had as the first thing on my mind, the various associations I have had with the family and with Uncle Royal himself.

 

Going back into my boyhood days as neighbors, I recall the fact that Uncle Royal’s house was the gathering place of all the boys of the neighborhood.  It was there on his premises that many of the happy hours of my youth were spent, and then as I grew in years, I recall other associations.  It has been my privilege of being able to go into their home on every kind of business.  I have associated with them as a relative.  It was my honor to be in attendance at the Golden Wedding.  It has been my privilege of going in a business matter and in the social circle.  I have been in contact with the family in a religious way, as a gathering here.

 

I wish to express my sincere appreciation for this opportunity and privilege, for the inspiration that has come to me in the association.  I appreciate them for the cooperation and support in the ward here in which we live.  I rejoice that what has been said this afternoon is true.  All that has been said in regard to Uncle Royal is true to my knowledge.  It has been said he wasn’t a speaker, hot in public.  There is many ways of living the gospel.  I’d rather see a sermon any day than hear one.

 

I voice the sentiment of the Bishopric to the family for the cooperation and help they have given us in the ward and activities.  Eighty years have passed since his birth into this world.  Eighty years of experience.  It brought a thought to my mind which I am going to express to you this afternoon.  The thought is this: All I have heard today and for the past four days is the loss of Uncle Royal.  You have heard neighbors and friends and relatives recount experiences, accomplishments of this man, etc.  Going over his record as Bishop Plowman mentioned here, may I compare that record with a Score Book of Life. 

 

Every accomplishment in his life has recorded a point to his credit in his favor, and 80 years of this experience has run that score, no one knows how high.  How has he played the game?  Is his record the high point man, or is he at the bottom of the list?  In passing judgment, I do it only to myself.  God only is to pass judgment.  Compare this with the present life.  You and I, brothers and sisters, are you or I playing the game?  What is registered on the score book of life for you and me?  Am I going to be the high point man?  Are you going to? Or am I going to have a blank at the side of my name.

 

I have taken a lot of interest in basketball this winter.  We enjoy these games.  The high point man is always looked upon with high favor.  When you find a man in the community, registered opposite his name each year and day is that course.  He is also looked upon in favor and as a fellow man who is doing something worth while.

 

As was expressed of Uncle Royal, for this effort we can appreciate his example.  We appreciate his accomplishments.  We appreciate the association with him.  His life was like a short story I heard once:

 

A man had three sons.  They grew to maturity, and old enough to get into the world and have experience.  The father was a wealthy man.  He told the boys, each one, to go into the world, live his life and return in twenty years.  “I will give all I own to the one who has made the most of life.  They all go, each in a different direction.

 

At the end of twenty years all came home. “What have you done?” the father asked the first one.  “What have been your accomplishments in this world?”

 

“I have been an exception, Father.  I have taken up Law.  My ability in the courts in the Government is such that I can receive the greatest or worst convict.”

 

“What has been your accomplishment?” he asked the second.

 

“I have succeeded.  I took up the vocation of art.  I can paint so greatly the picture that it will be a choice picture.  I paint beautiful scenes.  I believe my life has been a success.  My paintings are in great demand in the country.  I have all in the world I need.”

 

“Son, what is your accomplishment? he asked the third.

 

“Father, I will have to confess I have been a failure.  I haven’t accomplished what they have, but I’ve done my best.  I joined an emigrant train and went on the desert.  I have been in service for twenty years, to people who needed help.  I went.  There was nothing but sagebrush.  Today there are cities, and people rearing families, and homes.  I have a wife and small family.  I am nothing today. I am no success.”

 

“To you, all I have is yours because of your success.”

 

This might be compared with Uncle Royal.  He always gave willingly.  He devoted his life to the welfare and interest of his family.  He has built well, and today he has gone to the building he has built for himself.  We are going to dwell in the house we build.  It is within our hands.  Just as you will.  You have the ability and the material with which to build.

 

God bless you, brothers and sisters.  May we keep sacred the things which will build our house.  May we seek the guidance of our Father in Heaven who is the giver of all blessings.  Keep sacred in our memories the services he has rendered to you and me.  We must do our part.  Not one of us is free from this obligation.  Do your part.  God requires it all.  Because of the price that was paid by the blood of our Savior of this world.

 

May the Lord bless and help us to utilize our time and energy here in mortality as it is said of this man, that the same thing may be said of us.  May we all appreciate our friends and do our duty to each other, I humbly pray, asking the blessing upon Aunt Jane and family, in the name of Jesus Christ.  Amen.

 

Song: “Shall We Meet Beyond the River” Choir

 

Prayer: R. B. Thornley

Our Father in Heaven, at the close of these impressive services we wish to express our thanks and gratitude of our hearts for the spirit that has been with us this afternoon.  We are thankful for the gospel of Jesus Christ.  We are thankful for all that has been done this afternoon. And for the nice things that have been said.  We are thankful for the songs rendered in our meeting, for the inspiration and hope that we have of Eternal Life.  We feel thankful for the life of our brother and the association with him, for the association with his wife and good family.  We pray that Thy Holy Spirit may be with them to comfort them.  We are thankful for our neighbors and friends that have come in to show their appreciation.  Help us all to appreciate Thy goodness from time to time.  We pray that we may go to the cemetery and no accident may befall us, and that we may always remember the good things said this day as well as the good example shown by this good man, all of which we pray for in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

The following document records the funeral for Royal Edwin Tidwell held on March 22, 1934.

I spent an afternoon typing this from a document that was very hard to read, so maybe a word or two is not accurate.  A few of the original word on my document were unintelligible.  And the person who originally took this down in short hand may have missed a few words too.  However, the text is probably about 99 percent accurate.