On Monday, October 24th, 2022, John Earl Tedder, loving husband and father of three, passed away peacefully with family by his side at age seventy-nine. Whether you called him John, Johnny, Southeast Johnny or other colorful names he collected over the years - he was loved by those who knew him. John was born the eldest son of two children to his late parents, Earl Ray Tedder and Thelma Maxine Tedder on September 29th, 1943. He attended Nathan Hale high school where he first met his high school sweetheart, Linda Kay. They met at age 16 and by age 17 John knew that Linda was "the one" and so they were married and became the Tedders.
If a cat has nine lives, then Johnny had fourteen. The term iron boot and John are synonymous. He experienced his first near death experience at age 16 when he was driving a car full of his buddies and was hit head on by a drunk driver. It was a deadly accident that was a miracle for him to survive and left him with scars and injuries that would impact him for the rest of his life. He fought every battle that came his way with fierce determination on that day and every day after until he took his final breath on this borrowed time we all have on earth. Nobody had a stronger will to survive than John Earl Tedder.
John was a hard worker. He started his professional career working for his father for a handful of years before starting his first company, H & T Masonry, around 1971. John and Linda lived in the big city of Tulsa, OK and established their family as they brought three daughters into the world. They spent many years living the city life, but John had bigger plans in mind - he wanted to be a rancher. John found his dream acreage so he and Linda packed up and moved out to Claremore, Oklahoma where he established Canyon Lake Ranch and started his new company that he would grow to be successful and eventually retire from, Southeast Tulsa Construction.
An avid race horsing fan, John spent years in the industry racing horses. It was truly a passion of John's, and he was lucky enough to get to stand down in the winner's circle a time or two - an accomplishment that made him proud. Along with racing horses he loved raising cattle. He would spend hours driving the pastures checking on his cows and he would always give them names. It was his happy place.
Five facts about "Southeast Johnny": (1) He fought hard and loved hard (2) His standard attire was a white tee (3) Many a day ended with a white cup (4) To know him was to never park behind him (5) He made the best breakfasts and popcorn on the stovetop.
A running joke in the family was that there was never a new movie coming out that he had not seen - and somehow, he would always be able to back up his claims when he would say "I've seen that". A man who commanded authority, Southeast Johnny always gave you two choices on how to do things: his way or his way. The man also loved to make bets. Whether it was making bets on the horse tracks or betting some of his lifelong friends to do crazy stunts like climbing up light poles he was a prankster and rebel at heart.
John will be greatly missed by his family and is survived by his high school sweetheart and wife, Linda Kay Tedder and their three daughters: Julie Murray and husband Pat Murray, Lisa Tittle and husband Shane Tittle, and Johnna Tedder. John leaves behind four grandchildren: Lindsey Callery and husband Keith Callery, Amber Murray, Taylor Murray, and Addison Tedder. He was also blessed to have known and loved his four great-grandchildren: Wittaker and Waylon Callery, Cashton Marshall, and Paisleigh Brasher. John is also survived by his sister who loved him dearly, Diane White and her husband Jim White.
A graveside memorial service will be held on Friday, October 28th, at 2 p.m. at Memorial Park Cemetery in Tulsa, OK. The family invites those who knew and loved John to come join in celebrating his life. In lieu of giving flowers, the family asks that those who are able instead make a donation to the Parkinson Foundation of Oklahoma. Moore's Southlawn 918-663-2233 share memories at www.moorefuneral.com