Obituary of Jean Ellen McLarty Tidball

Jean Ellen McLarty Tidball passed away November 24, 2023, in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

She was born in Battle Creek, Michigan on January 19, 1944, to Thora Hoyt McLarty and Gordon McLarty.

She graduated Valedictorian of her high school and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Education in 1966 from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.  Later she earned Master’s degrees in Mathematics from the University of Colorado and the Colorado School of Mines.

Jean started her teaching career in Chicago as a middle school math teacher.  Her love for the outdoors led her to Colorado a few years later where she met her husband, Ron.  They were married in 1975 and had a home in Denver.

For several years they owned a week-end retreat in Tabernash, Colorado, where they could be close to great skiing.  

Jean had a career in Denver with TRW as a Program Manager and Ron worked for the National Geological Survey.

Jean and Ron loved the mountains and, when they retired in 1999, they sold the Denver home and moved to Fraser, Colorado.  They were there until 2008 when the need for closer access to medical facilities led them to MacKenzie Place in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Jean was very active all of her life.  Ballet, piano, camp counselor as a young girl and swimming, skiing, hiking, quilting, scrapbooking, traveling, with many bicycling trips through Europe and the US.  Later, she enjoyed writing poetry, book clubs, bible study, Church choir, and Kappa Kappa Gamma Sorority Alumni gatherings.

She was always a loyal follower of her alma mater, the University of Michigan, watching football and basketball games.

She was an active member of the First Congregational Church United Church of Christ in Colorado Springs where a “Celebration of Life” will be held on Saturday, December 9, 2023 at 10:00AM.  The church is located at 20 East Saint Vrain Street, Colorado Springs.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Ronald R. Tidball in 2016; mother, Thora Hoyt McLarty in 1988; and father, Gordon McLarty in 1986.

Surviving are her sister, Marjorie and brother-in-law, Michael Dunn of Delran, NJ; nephew, Gregory Dunn and wife, Colleen of Middletown, MD; and nephew, Jeffrey Dunn and wife Christen of Coatesville, PA.  

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made to the Hydrocephalus Association, www.hydroassoc.org.