Mr. Albert J. "A.J." Tisdale

Albert J. Tisdale, also known as A.J. Tisdale, departed his earthly home on April 11, 2017, surrounded by his loving family. He ascended to his Heavenly Home where he expects to spend eternity with Jesus, the saints, the angels, his family, and friends. A.J. was born March 31, 1921, in Caldwell Parish, North Louisiana, near the small village of Kelly. He was the first son of Albert C. Tisdale and Stella Allbritton Tisdale, and was blessed to grow up with 5 sisters (Velma, Eunice, Mildred, Marie, and Geneva) and two younger brothers (Donald and Bill). In A.J.’s early years, the family was engaged in farming; however, after a few years, his father decided to re-enter the oil business, so they moved to El Dorado, Arkansas. There, he got his first experience in the oil fields, helping his Dad with minor repairs to his oil properties. In the late 1920's, his father drilled a number of dry holes in Louisiana, narrowly missing a major discovery, the East Texas oil field, which was discovered near Joinerville, Texas, in 1931. H. L. Hunt, the well-known oil man, asked A.J.’s dad to take a position, looking after Hunt’s first producing property in East Texas, so the family moved to a small village named Wright City located between Henderson and Tyler. A.J. and the other school-aged family members entered Gaston School in Joinerville, where he graduated in 1938. At the age of 13, A.J. was converted at the Selman City Baptist Church and was baptized by the Reverend Fox in a creek behind the church. A couple of years later, he and other family members chartered the Turnertown Baptist Church. This church became the dominant church in the area. A.J. attended church and Sunday School regularly, and he was active in many church functions. During his teens, he worked in the oilfield as well as agricultural projects, such as raising chickens, growing corn and pea crops, and tending to dairy cattle and hogs. These projects earned him the title of Outstanding Vocational Student in Gaston High School. The year he graduated from high school, he met the love of his life, Dorothy Jo Schillings. They were married September 7, 1941, in Turnertown Baptist Church by the pastor, the Reverend Harvey Elledge. A.. J. and Dorothy Jo joined a church and attended regularly whenever they moved to a new city. Religion was a vital part of their lives. A.J. entered Baylor University in the fall of 1938 as a pre-med student; but he changed his major after two years to business administration. After World War II started, he delayed entering Baylor University for his third year to work in defense in Mobile, Alabama, and Houston, Texas, before entering military service in 1943. He served with the Air Force's first jetpropelled group in the Mohave Desert. During his military years, his first daughter, Dana Sue, was born in 1944. After his discharge from the military in 1946, he returned to Baylor. His second daughter, Judith Ann, was born that year. He graduated from Baylor in 1947. During his last year, he was the student assistant and grader for the Business Law Professor and was an honor student. In his last year of Business Administration studies, he enjoyed a close relationship with the Dean of the Business School, Dr. Monroe Carroll, and he even kept Dr. Carroll’s classes on a number of occasions. After graduation from Baylor, he accepted a position with Humble Oil and Refining Company, which later became Exxon-Mobil, and the family moved to McCamey, Texas. From McCamey, the family moved to Midland, then Houston, Los Angeles, and then back to Midland in 1967. A.J. retired as the Division Services Manager over Production, Exploration, and Marketing with 35 years of service. After his retirement, A.J. and Dorothy Jo moved to the East Texas city of Jacksonville, and then Tyler. They returned to live in Midland in 2004. A.J.'s favorite past-time was Bass Fishing. While in Midland, he helped charter and named the High Sky Bass Club which had monthly tournaments that he entered and often won. He was always proud of his beautiful bass boat. He taught his grandchildren how to fish, and they still talk about many memorable trips. He also enjoyed visiting hunting camps, with the camaraderie as well as the hunting. A.J. and Dorothy Jo enjoyed traveling in our country, as well as overseas and on cruises. One of their best trips was a historical tour through Virginia, where they enjoyed many historical sites, as well as Thomas Jefferson's home, Monticello. From Virginia, they traveled through Maryland to Washington, D.C., where they visited many of the Capitol’s attractions, such as Congress, the White House, the Supreme Court, the Smithsonian, and many monuments, and on to Pennsylvania's battlefields and Philadelphia with its many historical sites. They ended the trip in New York City with its attractions and a trip to a Broadway play. Other trips in America included the World's Fair in New Orleans, the French Quarter and dining in its famous restaurants, and on to Florida and Disney World with its Epcot Center. Since they lived in California for six years, they enjoyed many of the wonderful sites the state had to offer. On an extended trip to Europe, A.J. and Dorothy Jo saw many wonderful places. The two-week cruise on the original "Love Boat" through the Caribbean was a great experience. In celebration of their fiftieth wedding anniversary, they took a cruise to the Hawaiian Islands. On their last trip, A.J. and Dorothy Jo flew to Fairbanks, Alaska, toured the inland and the great Denali Park, and then cruised Alaska's inland passage back to Vancouver. Their greatest regret was that every time they planned a trip to the Holy Lands, the trip was cancelled due to outbreaks of hostilities. A.J. was active in the Lions Club, the United Way, the Permian Oil Show, the First Baptist Church, and others. He was a 60-year Master Mason. A.J. was a devoted husband for 75 years , a loving and generous father to his daughters, Dana Sue and Judith Ann. He doted on his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Many of his friends and relatives will remember him by his sense of humor and his ability to tell funny stories. He is survived by his wife of 75 years, Dorothy Jo Tisdale, daughter Dana Sue and her husband William M. Holland, daughter Judith Ann and her husband Michael J. Canon, 7 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. Services will be held at the Crawford-A. Crim Chapel in Henderson, Texas, on April 14, 2017, at 2:00 p.m., with the Reverend Donald James Tisdale presiding. Interment will follow at Lakewood Memorial Park under the direction of Crawford-A. Crim Funeral Home. The family will receive friends from 1:00 p.m. until service time at the funeral home. Pallbearers will be his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. His grandchildren include Michael Canon, Joanna Holland Thiele, Stephen Canon, Murrie Holland, Christopher Canon, Elizabeth Canon Moore, and Allison Holland. His great grandchildren include William, Lawrence and Olivia Thiele; Jackson, Lenore and Noah Canon; Clare and Cate Moore; Caroline and Eloise Canon; and James Canon. Honorary pallbearers, the spouses of his grandchildren, include Meredith Canon, Honor Canon, Cory Canon and Todd Moore. Memorial donations may be made in Albert J. Tisdale’s name to the First Baptist Church of Midland, Texas, Missions, at 2104 West Louisiana Avenue, Midland, Texas 79701. Words of comfort may be shared with the family at www.crawfordacrim.com.

Mr. Albert J. "A.J." Tisdale

March 31, 1921 - April 11, 2017