Michael Joe Sides

Michael Joe Sides was born on January 22, 1950 in Blytheville, AR and passed from this life on July 21, 2024 on the same gravel road he lived his entire life, surrounded with love.
Many, know Mike because of their families generations of farming, continued on by him and his brother and best friend, Les Sides. Some may know him for the years he worked at Wal-Mart and the many funny experiences they had there. Others may know him as the guy who often showed up in the middle of neighborhoods, passing out milk, eggs or whatever else had been delivered by the church food trucks. If you knew him well at all, you knew of his dry wit, his love of animals and the many pictures he loved to share of them and that the more he liked you, the more he picked on you.
He was a member of the Caruthersville Class of 1968.
However you many not know he was an amazing puppeteer, hosting puppet shows over the door for us at our request. He was the quietest yet most important cheerleader in the crew and the one who always knew how to fix things. The maker of the best egg sandwich ever, so good birds would swoop down to eat them from his hand every morning. He was never too busy for anything we needed. He needed no words to show all of us how important we were to him. Mike never needed recognition for anything he did, much went unnoticed but today rings loudly of his absence. Farming was in his blood, however we often think what he liked most about it was the time working with his brother and the seat on the combine that afforded him a better view of any animals ahead.
To us, he was the hardest working, kindest and most selfless man we knew. To say he often put others before him would be an understatement, he always put others first in everything he did, right down to where we ate or went. He savored the simple pleasures, watching old movies, finding mistakes in films and showing off his latest animal pictures. He didn't say much, but he enjoyed seeing his grandkids playing, took great pride in his daughter Ashley driving the combine and loved his family beyond measure.
He was a member of CrossRoads Church in Braggadocio where he enjoyed helping with anything that was needed inside and outside of church. Years before he played piano for Sunday morning services at Marvin Chapel Church at the end of his road.
The life he helped build for all of us is a blessing today. It began when he got up the courage to ask out a waitress at Curtis' Cafe in Hayti. He and Brenda Sides got married in a small church there and fifty years later they made a beautiful life for us all turning the farm into a sanctuary overflowing with faith, love and laughter.
Mike was preceded in death by his father, Billy Joe Sides, who he could not wait to see when he passed on to Heaven.
Left to strive to carry on the many things he taught us are his wife, Brenda Sides, his daughters, Ashley Kimmel (Kyle Wright), and Christina Williams (Craig), his mother, Margarete Sides, his brother, Leslie Sides (Aggie Cobb), his grandchildren, Micah McCaig (Tyler), Aisley Kimmel, Aarley Kimmel, Brittan Williams (Katelyn) and Brittany McFadden (Jameson), his great grandchildren, Arrow, Esme, Sterling, Dax and a new edition who is yet to arrive. His dear friends and pastor, Danny and Cathy Neal and many other relatives and friends.
Visitation will be held on Monday, July 22, 2024 at H.S. Smith Funeral Home with Brother Danny Neal officiating and speaker Dr. James Adams. The funeral was held Tuesday, July 23, 2024. Pallbearers were Ashley Kimmel, Christina Williams, Craig Williams, Kyle Wright, Brittan Williams, and Tyler McCaig.
Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, July 23, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. in the H.S. Smith Funeral Chapel with Brother Danny Neal officiating and speaker Dr. James Adams. Interment will follow in Maple Cemetery.
Visitation will be on Monday, July 22, 2024, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. in the H.S. Smith Chapel.
IN LIEU OF FLOWERS, please consider donating to the R-3 Party, a local charity that was very important to Mike and one that he never missed an opportunity to help and support or the ALS Association at the Mayo Clinic.
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