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James Tidyman, 88

James Tidyman, known as Jim, passed away on Aug. 1, 2018, at the age of 88 years. He was a husband, father, grandfather, businessman, golfer and pianist.

Reared in Valier, Mont., Jim earned a bachelor’s degree in business from University of Montana at Missoula in 1953. Following graduation, he served as a regional sales representative for Continental Oil in Helena, Wolf Point, Sidney, and Miles City, Mont. He bought his first business, a Conoco service station, in Billings, Mont., in 1960. Following the success of his first business, Jim and his friend and Sigma Chi brother, Robert Buchanan, started a grocery store in Billings in 1965. They later expanded the business to the Spokane, Wash., area, then to northern Idaho and western Montana. It grew to employ over 950 people and was eventually renamed to “Tidyman’s.” He and his wife, Thea, moved to Spokane in 1980. The Tidyman’s business was sold to its employees in 1986.

Jim retired to Hayden Lake, Idaho, in 1987, where he enjoyed many happy, warm seasons with family — most importantly grandchildren — playing on the lake. In the winter, he fled south to Rancho Mirage, Calif., for sunny skies and many rounds of golf. In 2004, he married Mary Ann, and they continued to enjoy both Hayden Lake and Rancho Mirage.

Jim was a member, leader and patron of numerous organizations, including the Sigma Chi fraternity, the Kiwanis Club, the Boy Scouts of America, the Jaycees, the Spokane Club, the Spokane Country Club, the Hayden Lake Country Club and The Springs Country Club. Tidyman’s grocery stores also provided an illuminated flying Santa Claus, which was a local fixture in Spokane and the Valley for many years during the holidays.

As a teen, high school sports were important to him. Throughout his life, Jim enjoyed a passion for the piano, which he played by ear for friends and family. He was an avid golfer and he also enjoyed skiing, flying and reading. He loved any opportunity to hold and coo at babies. He also dabbled in the accordian, the harmonica, off-road motorcycles and collecting rocks and fossils.

Jim is predeceased by his wife, Thea (née Williams); brother, Thomas and daughter, Heather.

Jim is survived by his wife, Mary Ann (née Garcea, m. 2004); son, Scott; stepsons, Scott and Brett MacPherson; brothers, John (Sue) and William (Clarice); grandchildren, Carson Tidyman, Ben MacPherson and Tayla and Ian MacPherson; plus eight nieces and nephews. There were many others who loved him as family, as he did them.

A celebration of life will be held for Jim at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 12, 2018, at the Hayden Lake Country Club, 2362 E. Bozanta Drive, Hayden Lake, Idaho.