Joseph Neil Tidsbury

(Joseph) Neil Tidsbury died peacefully at home in the loving arms of his daughter Carol, with Boots, the cat he loved by his side, at 7:00 am on December 3, 2022.

Neil was predeceased by his beloved wife Theresa Anne (Terry), on July 14, 2013. He will be profoundly missed, and is survived by his children Laurel (Ron), Carol, Rolf (Coulette; deceased), Ian (Christie), his granddaughter Carly (Roosevelt), and his cat Boots.

Neil was born September 28, 1929 in Edmonton, Alberta, the fourth son of Ann Summerfield Tidsbury and Albert Gillis Tidsbury. He was predeceased by his three brothers and 2 of their spouses Daniel (Dorothy), William (Kay; 102 years), and Robert (Joan). Neil had many nieces and nephews who he treasured.

Neil graduated from the University of Alberta in 1955, with a Bachelor of Science in Geology. While pursuing his degree Neil worked for Texaco Exploration in Northern Alberta from 1952 to 1957.

In 1958, Neil accepted a position with Petro Brasília, the Brazilian National Oil Company, and with his wife and daughters moved to Maceio, Brazil. He was responsible for various aspects of petroleum exploration, including the delineation of drilling prospects. During this period considerable time was devoted to the training of Brazilian geologists and engineers. In 1963, he was offered the opportunity to be a part of the development of the first offshore drilling site in Brazil.

Neil instead decided to move his young family back to Canada as he believed this would be a better life for his children. Thus, Neil with his wife, daughters, and his two sons who were born in Brazil, returned to Canada and settled in Calgary, Alberta, where he accepted a position with the consulting organization of J.C. Sproule and Associates Ltd.

In 1965, Neil was named Chief Geologist for Amax Petroleum Corporations, Canadian Operations, which had just named Calgary as its main operating offices following the transfer of the bulk of its Tulsa USA operations to Calgary. Thus, he worked throughout Western Canada from 1965 to 1968.

In 1968, Neil founded his own company, J. N. Tidsbury Geological Consultants Ltd. The company specialized in all phases of petroleum exploration. Areas of investigation included Canada, the North Sea offshore in association with England and the Netherlands, portions of North Africa, and portions of Australia. As well, considerable work in coal exploration was done in Western Canada.

Neil continued to advance his successful career during the years from 1968 to 1982 with the establishment of several other companies. These included Summerfield Development Ltd. and Develco. Also during this period of his career Neil joined forces with close colleagues in the oil and gas industry and together they established Cowper, Morgan, and Tidsbury Ltd., Kootenay Bay Properties Ltd., Norfolk Petroleum Ltd., Campbell Creek Developments Ltd., and Selkirk Petroleum Ltd. In 1982, Neil and Del Borggard became partners with the foundation of Bonus Petroleum Corporation and Mount Hawk Minerals Corporation.

Throughout his career Neil was a member of the Canadian Society of Petroleum Geologists and the Association of Professional Engineers, Geologists, and Geophysicists of Alberta. In 1990, he was granted a lifetime membership in the latter association and from that time forward operated on a semi retired basis for the remainder of his career.

In 1985, he and Terry moved to their home at Gull Lake and became avid gardeners and canners, beer and wine makers, bird watchers and feeders, nature walkers, and Dad learned to cook. Dad cherished the Gull Lake community and the time spent with family, friends, and neighbours in those years.

Dad was one in a million. He was our father, our hero, our confidant, our mentor, and our friend. He was always steadfast in our lives. Our parents created a home which was always brimming with family and friends. They were often the orchestrators of fun for us and our friends. Winter and summer, the van would be filled with kids and we would be off on another adventure. There were picnics at Big Hill Springs, fossil hunting expeditions in various locations, tubing at Edworthy Park, snowmobiling at Gull Lake, and hot dog and marshmallow roasts throughout the year. In early years we spent time as an extended family with our cousins on Button Road in Calgary, on the farm in Vermillion, in the river valley parks of Edmonton, in Victoria, and at Gull Lake. In later years, Dad treasured the visits spent with his granddaughter Carly in Lethbridge and the time she spent with them at Gull Lake in the summers.

Dad coached hockey and soccer with Larry Darling. Over a period of 12 years the soccer team won the City Cup multiple times and was also provincial champions. Win or lose the team went to Dairy Queen; milk shakes for a win and freezies for a loss.

Dad was always concerned about ones welfare, family or not. He mentored not only his own children but many of our friends and the university students who worked part time in his companies. He used his unbridled love for fun and his larger than life spirit to lead many of us to believe we could reach for the stars.

There will be an interment at Gull Lake Cemetery followed by a Celebration of Life as well as, a Celebration of Life in Calgary in early summer. Dates and times are yet to be determined.