Bernie (Bud) William Eidson Jr., age 73, died on February 5, 2024, in Muskogee, Oklahoma.
Bernie was born on March 6, 1950, in El Dorado, KS, the son of Bernie William Eidson Sr. and Betty Mae (Baum) Mealor.
At 18 years old, he joined the Army, serving in the Vietnam War; once he returned home, he married Janice May Fairchild in El Dorado on August 16, 1971. They later divorced. He has two sons, Albert and Donovan.
He worked for Willbros Pipeline, drove for ABF, and had his own Stone Masonry business that he did on the side. Bernie enjoyed going to auctions, hunting, and fishing and was a collector of Hot Wheel cars. His collection was over 7,500. He was a big sports fan, especially football and baseball, and liked playing golf.
He is survived by his sons, Albert William (Shannon) Checotah, Oklahoma, and Donovon Wade (Angie) Lufkin, Texas; and his brother, Ralph Mealor Jr. El Dorado.; Sisters Sharon (Robert) Kelsey of Wamego and Teresa (Steve) Booth of El Dorado. Grandchildren: Kash, Cameron (Rae), Tyler, Amber, and Autumn. Great-grandchildren, Sebastian, Maverick, Spencer, Ellie, Carley, Kenna, Lily, and Charlotte, and several nieces and nephews, and finally his dog, Sissy.
He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers David, Claude, and Clyde, and sisters Helen Haworth, Mildred Hensman, Opal Foster, and Wilma Butler.
A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, March 9, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. at Campanella & Stewart Funeral Home of Wamego. A visitation will occur from 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. at Campanella & Stewart Funeral Home of Wamego. Memorial contributions are to be determined later and can be left in the care of Campanella & Stewart Funeral Home of Wamego, PO Box 48, Wamego, KS 66547.