Anita L. Tidwell, 80 years, went to be with the Lord on July 6, 2022. She had struggled with some health problems in recent weeks that unfortunately could not be treated, even after multiple efforts. The decision for hospice care was to honor her wishes to be at home and pass away peacefully - as she did.
Born Anita Louise Pinion on September 21, 1941 to Granvil and Doshie (Patton) Pinion in Spiro, Oklahoma. She was the 7th born out of ten children, but sadly lost her mother at an early age.
She attended school in Spiro, OK and after high school moved to Oklahoma City, where she found a job car hopping at Hollie's Drive-In. The move to the city is what would ultimately lead her to meeting the love of her life, Emitt Tidwell Jr. at a country and western concert. Their courtship led to marriage fairly quickly despite their age difference. She was 19, and he was 34. They married on June 1, 1961, and their wedding photo even made the front page of the small town newspaper, "The Cushing Daily Citizen", of Emitt's hometown. They remained in love for 52 years until his passing in 2013.
In 1962 they would welcome their first child, a daughter Gloria Ann, born on September 1st in Elk City, OK. Less than two years later they would have a son, Gary Wayne, born in Cordell, OK on March 20, 1964.
Anita was a dedicated military wife who moved as any military wife does with her husband's orders. After bouncing around Oklahoma, they would get duty orders to move to Tucson, AZ in the mid-late 1960's. This eventually led to Emitt being deployed to Vietnam. As a woman who missed her husband, she corresponded with him regularly through letters to update him on the kids and how things were at home. After Emitt returned from Vietnam, he retired from the Air Force in 1970, returning to Oklahoma and settling in Del City by 1971.
By the early 1970's Anita was employed by Mid-Del schools as a lunch lady. She worked at Townsend elementary and Del Crest Junior High collectively for over 15 years. She retired after the birth of their first grandchild, Rachael. Her and Emitt both enjoyed traveling and camping. They even took their new grandbaby all around the United States in their Winnebago RV. In addition to the outdoors, Anita enjoyed playing Bingo with family and especially going on casino trips with her sisters.
About 10 years after their granddaughter was born, they would have a grandson named Thomas enter their lives as a joy. By this time Anita had gained a name that most people who knew her had heard before, "Nanny" - a moniker given by her granddaughter Rachael as a toddler. If you didn't know her as "Anita", you knew her as "Nanny". One thing she always told her grandkids was "I always want you to know that you are loved."
She was a loving grandmother who spent her years doting on her grandkids and great-grandkids. In 2013, she lost her love Emitt after a lengthy battle with Alzheimer's. She cared for him at home up until his passing, along with the help of our friend Krystal Wiley (CNA) who became like another grandkid to her.
Anita carried on after Emitt's passing, with her grandson Thomas by her side. The next almost ten years she spent making good memories with family and was blessed with having 2 great-granddaughters - Emelia and Beatrice.
In 2020, tragedy struck with the untimely loss of her grandson, Thomas, at the age of 20. He had just moved back to her house and was going to stay with her. A year later in November of 2021, her son Gary passed unexpectedly in a horrific car accident. These two losses affected her deeply as a mother and a grandmother. She persevered saying she had to keep going for those still here. She was also determined to see justice served for her grandson's death. Always saying "I'll see it through until we get justice for Tom." And that she did.
Anita was the example of a strong woman, with an even stronger heart. She endured so much and loved so deeply. She was a Christian woman, a believer in Jesus Christ. Anita and Emitt were active members at Heavenly Heights Baptist Church until his illness with Alzheimer's.
She is preceded in death by her parents, her husband Emitt, her son Gary, her grandson Thomas Poolaw, along with 5 sisters - Mary, Mildred, Lillie, Fannie, and Joyce; and one brother, Thomas Pinion.
She is survived by her daughter Gloria Poolaw of New Orleans, LA; one granddaughter Rachael Turberville and husband Erik; two great-granddaughters, Emelia Turberville and Beatrice Poolaw; three sisters, Helen, Karen, and Margaret; one brother-in-law Melvin Tidwell and his wife Chris, along with a multitude of nieces, nephews, and friends.
Visitation will be 4-8pm Wednesday, July 13th. Services will be Thursday, July 14, 2022 at 10am at Bill Eisenhour Funeral Home in Del City, with burial to follow at Sunny Lane Cemetery.
PALLBEARERS
Erik Turberville
Steven Foreman Jr.
Chris Lee
Andrew Hickman
Rogelio Lemus
Adam Lee
George N. Poolaw IIHonorary
Rick CallawayHonorary
William AshingHonorary
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