Jennifer Lee Kummer

Jennifer Lee “Bear” Tidwell Kummer took a break from this earth Wednesday, November 16, 2022; she passed away from breast cancer that spread to her brain. She was born September 14, 1971 to Jimmy “Mac” and Ilene Joan Llewelyn Tidwell. She was 51 years old; Mama Bear woke her daughters at 3:28 AM to let them know she wasn’t in pain anymore. To know her is to be loved by her.

Jennifer was born tiny, at a little over 4 pounds, but feisty; her father could put her entire baby arm in his mouth, she was so little. She fought from the first day of her life to the very last moments, even saying in those last days, “I don’t want to die.” She was surrounded by angels; she would see them and tell us who she was seeing; her mother, her grandparents, her brother. She was never alone and as our angel she will never leave us alone.

Jen stood up for those who did not have the strength for themselves. She cared deeply about others, always changing the subject or attention to learn all she could about those around her. She was always interested in others lives and asked about their interests, their families; even asking the doctors and nurses to talk about themselves rather than to focus on her. One of her nurses at IMC said of Jen, “You are absolutely a beautiful person.” And she is.

Jennifer has many titles and crowns, from mother and grandmother to sister and friend. She is a daughter and granddaughter, a wife, a cousin, a co-worker, a neighbor, Aunt Bear; the title of Bear, given by her family, embraces who she is.

She graduated in 1989 from Granger High School and went on to Dental Assisting school at The Bryman School. She worked many jobs to take care of her home and family; she was a dental assistant, kindergarten para-professional, a warehouse and office worker, and a lot tech for a service department. She loves Reba, NCIS, and watching TV with her girls. When they were little and watching anything remotely scary Alyssa would be on one side of her and Kayla on the other. They would be too scared to sleep in their own rooms so they would have a sleepover with their Mama Bear. She taught them so many things, especially how to get down on your hands and knees to scrub a floor.

Jennifer is a Daddy’s girl from day one, always looking up to him. She loved to go to work with him and lay on the floor by the gear shift in his big truck. Her brother Jody was her best friend growing up. She would follow him around when he would let her. He taught her how to fight! She loved her sister Trish and wanted to be included in everything she did. She loved being with her sister and her family of boys, she was the happiest and most proud aunt, she loved her nephews and nieces. She loved and missed her mom deeply after losing her before her Senior year of High School. She would have never left her girls if she had any say about it. She knows the pain of losing a mother.

Jenny Bear is a friend. If you were her friend, you would think you were her best friend. She had a lot of best friends. She created a tribe of friendships and made all her friends become friends with each other. We love our Bear Tribe and will carry on with her with her fierce and loyal friendship; she asked us to take care of her girls and babies and we promise to remember and to tell Bear stories so they will also remember. She asked us to buy the babies Bears for her and tell them Grandma loves them. Her Grandbabies will never not know their wonderful angel Grandma-ma. Above all else she loved her family and her Grandbabies, Miles, Logan, and Avery, they brought her the most joy in her life.

Jennifer loved Fish Lake, she would say, “Fish Lake is where I feel closest to God”. She loved the high mountains. She would hug the trees, go fishing early in the morning or late at night, take a walk under the stars; she loved to be under the stars as they felt to fall upon her. What a gift to have her among the stars watching over us, still fighting for us.

Jennifer is survived by [Father] Jimmy "Mac" Tidwell; [Wife] Kristy Michele Howell Smith; [Children] Kayla (Tyler), Alyssa (Cayman), Tyler, Courtney (Troy); [Grandsons] Miles and Logan, [Granddaughter] Avery; (Siblings) Trish Nielson (Keith) and Stacie Lawrence (Brian), nephews and nieces, cousins and friends, aunts and uncles. Preceded in death by (Mother) Ilene Joan Llewellyn Tidwell, (Brother) Jody Mac Tidwell, (Nephew) Nickolas Nielson, and Grandparents.

Services will be held Saturday, November 26th, 11:00 A.M. at Valley View Funeral Home, 4335 West 4100 South. There will be a gathering for family and friends from 10:00 to 10:45 A.M. prior to the services on Saturday. Bring a stuffed bear to donate to charity, shelter, police or fire station in honor of our Bear! She will not forget us; she will not be forgotten.