John Chappell Sides, age 90, passed away on October 31, 2019, in Dallas, Texas. Chappell was born in Shreveport, Louisiana, on February 27, 1929, and grew up in Coffeeville, Mississippi. He graduated from Coffeeville High School in 1946 and from Mississippi State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture in 1949.
If you knew Chappell Sides, you knew an incredible storyteller. His grandchildren never missed an opportunity to ask “Granddaddy” to tell one of his stories, and most of those stories revolved around his days as a fighter pilot and a farmer. Chappell joined the United States Navy in 1952 and was trained in Naval Aviation in Pensacola, Florida. He proudly and courageously served as a fighter pilot during the Korean War. For his service, Chappell was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, United Nations Service Medal and Korean Service Medal. He left the U.S. Navy to pursue a farming career, in which he farmed cotton, peanuts, soybeans and cattle. During his farming days, Chappell especially enjoyed cutting horses and his beloved border collies. If you ever saw Chappell coming down the road in Coffeeville, you knew you would see all his dogs along for the ride.
Chappell met his first wife, Cleta, in San Francisco while stationed at Moffett Field in California. They married in September of 1954 and were married for 18 years until she passed away in March of 1972. He married Jimmie in 1979 and remained her companion until she passed away in January of 2014.
Chappell Sides was loved by many and will always be remembered for his quick wit and hot temper. Anyone who knew Chappell would say “What you see is what you get.”
Chappell is survived by his daughter Eva Richardson and son-in-law Mickey Richardson of Dallas, Texas; grandchildren Rachelle Richardson of Jackson, Mississippi; Clint and Mallory Richardson of Houston, Texas; Cleta Sides Parker and Anthony Sides of Grenada, Mississippi; brother Don Sides of Coffeeville, Mississippi; nieces Bonnie Sides of Jackson, Mississippi; Elizabeth Ann Waddell of Oxford, Mississippi; and Alice Sides McLeod of Como, Mississippi; and great grandchildren Adeline and Lila Richardson of Houston, Texas; Carly and Payton Parker, and Blake Sides of Grenada, Mississippi.
Chappell is preceded in death by his daughter Lori Sides, son Phillip Sides, wives Cleta Sevier Sides and Jimmie Sides, brother Elbert Sides, and parents J. C. Sides, Sr. and Eva Caldwell Sides.
Family and friends will participate in a memorial service this Sunday, November 10, at 2:00 pm at Lakeview at Josey Ranch in Carrollton, Texas. The family will also hold a private burial at the Veteran’s DFW National Cemetary. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, one of Chappell’s favorite charities.
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