Carl Autry Sides, of Montgomery, TX passed away August 1, 2024 at the age of 75 after a valiant battle with Parkinson’s Disease.
Born on September 25, 1948 to Sank and Margaret Sides, he was a graduate of Jefferson Davis High School in Houston, class of 1966 then continued his education at the University of Houston, graduating with honors in 1971. Carl went on to become a high school teacher and baseball coach at Sam Houston High School, but his next-door neighbor convinced him to become a sheet metal apprentice and join the Sheet Metal Workers Local Union No. 54. Just like he did with everything he tried, Carl excelled as a sheet metal apprentice and placed in the Southern States Apprenticeship Contest during all four years of the apprenticeship program. Carl began his sheet metal career at Gowco Sheet Metal, where he continued to work for several decades, then left Gowco and returned to his teaching roots as the Director of Training for the Union. After retiring from Local 54, Carl accepted a job with his good friend and spent five years as a planner for the City of Houston. He finally retired for good from the City of Houston and he and Janet spent the rest of his retirement in their home on Lake Conroe.
Carl loved to go fishing and deer hunting in the Piney Woods of East Texas, enjoyed playing softball and baseball (and watching his kids and grandkids play), was a wizard when it came to smoking a brisket and would read any book he could get his hands on. He was a man of few words but when he did speak it was either something incredibly witty or undeniably funny. Carl was a fiercely loyal and humble man and you’d be hard pressed to find someone who didn’t like him.
Carl is survived by his soulmate of 52 years, Janet; beloved daughter Kelly Reder (Todd); proud son Brian; loving grandchildren Hunter, Clara, Rhett and Kate; and many nieces, nephews and friends.
A celebration of life is planned for the near future and if desired, loved ones may make memorial contributions in Carl’s honor to The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research.
In Memoriam