John D. Tisdale
Orderville, Utah
Family and friends are mourning the loss of John David Tisdale, who passed away on December 26, 2020, just hours before his 81st birthday on December 27th.
John’s family had ties to Washington County where his great-grandfather Mathew Newton Batty lived in Toquerville, Utah. His grandmother Rebecca Ann Batty met John Roy Fox in Circleville, Utah, and they moved to Beaver, Utah after they were married. His mother was Luella May Fox, who met and married David Tisdale. John was born in Beaver, Utah on December 27, 1939.
John spent his younger years in Beaver, Milford, Cedar City, Pioche, Panaca, and Las Vegas where he attended Rancho High School. In December of 1959 John married Ilona Lewis and had 8 children, David (deceased), Michael, Kathy, Wendy, Tina, John, Ron, and Peggy. They were later divorced and he married Gena Taylor and had two more children Kacie and Brandi.
John was a hard worker. He started out as a laborer in Las Vegas at an early age of 15 when he moved out of his father’s house. He worked on an LDS chapel for a construction company, and became interested in the church and was baptized. He also worked for First Security Bank and eventually hired on with the railroad. He transferred to Price, Utah for a couple of years and then to Logan, Utah. His job duties were unloading the train and delivering packages to businesses just like UPS before there was a UPS. While in Logan, the railroad was bought out by UPS, and he transferred to the University. The winters in Logan became too rough, he frequently hurt so bad he would end up crawling because of the pain. The doctor said he needed a warmer climate, so that brought the family to St. George, Utah. He worked for Safeway as a handy man along with janitorial jobs to make extra money. He always worked two or three jobs.
When John and Gena divorced, he fell on rough times, eventually taking him to Kanab where he worked for Honey’s IGA. He met Lenore Hardy there, and they were married in 1989. They have been married 31 years, during which Lenore helped him get back on his feet. John worked for Anderson Lumber, drove Zion Shuttle, and drove the school bus where he loved to take the sports teams to events and watch his grandchildren perform. That was one of his greatest joys in life. After retiring, you could see him around town cleaning weeds and garbage. His famous saying was “If I quit, I will die.” He knew he needed to stay active to keep ahead of his arthritis,
John stayed active doing something until he died. He loved being around family, and Lenore and John frequently would have family reunions called “Sleep out at grandma and grandpas”. He loved his large extended family and will be missed by many.
John is preceded in death by his parents; sisters Peggy Sue and Rebecca Ann; brothers Jack Leroy and Harold Freddy; and son David. He is survived by his children from Ilona: Mike (Melody) Tisdale, Kathy (Mark Norris) Tisdale, Wendy (Mike) Buhler, Tina (Scott) Hardy, John (Darcey) Tisdale, Ron (Michele) Tisdale, and Peggy (Dennis) Clem; his daughters with Gena: Kacie Tisdale and Brandi (Sean) Cahill; and wife Lenore and her daughters Colene (Eric-deceased) Brinkerhoff, Connie Crofts, EvaRae Chamberlain, Diane (Mark) Smith, Darla Bartlett-deceased, and Jonette Hardy; brothers Robert and Greg; and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren spread throughout the Western states.
There will be a viewing Friday evening from 6-8 PM at the Orderville Utah LDS Church, and the service will be held Saturday, Jan. 2, 2021 at 10:00 AM in the La Verkin Utah LDS Stake Center, 70 South 300 West, La Verkin, with a viewing an hour before service.

people can tune in to zoom to view service https://us02web.zoom.us/j/6360365330

meeting id if required: 636 03605330

can also join by calling numbers below called One Tap Mobile

+13462487799, ,6360365330# US (Houston)

+16699009128, ,6360365330# US (San Jose)

Arrangements are being made with Mosdell Mortuary of Kanab.