RICHARD L. SIDES

BOLIVAR-Services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday at the Murray Funeral Home in Bolivar for Richard L. Sides, 61, Bolivar, who died Tuesday, June 30, 2015, at his home. Dr. William Hooper will officiate. Burial will be in Lake Cemetery in Lamar.

Visitation will be held from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday, at the funeral home.

Memorial contributions may be made to CMH Hospice.

Online condolences may be submitted at www.murrayfuneralhomes.com.

Survivors include his friend and caregiver, Michele Westfall, and many cousins and a host of friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; grandparents, William and Margaret McManis and Curtis M. and Lyda Sides and an uncle, Curtis D. Sides.

Mr. Sides was born Feb. 27, 1954, in Lamar, to Arthur A. and Frances M. (McManis) Sides. He was a 1972 graduate of Lamar High School, receiving many school awards and honors in both vocal and instrumental music. He attended Missouri Southern State College in Joplin, majoring in music education. He served two years as minister of music at St. Paul United Methodist Church in Joplin before returning to his hometown of Lamar, where he worked eight years for the Lamar R-1 School District and Daniel Funeral Home.

After becoming a licensed funeral director he began his employment with Sheldon-Goodrich Funeral Home in Osceola, before moving to Bolivar in 1991 and becoming associated with Murray Funeral Homes in Bolivar and Humansville. He enjoyed helping families in their time of need.

He was a member of the Bolivar First Baptist Church and was active in the church music department. He was a member of the SBU Sixth Man Club, the Odd Fellow Lodge No. 515 and the Calla Rebekah Lodge No. 160 of Lamar.