Betty Sides

With heavy hearts and sad rejoicing our mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend passed away and received into the arms of her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on October 30, 2021.

In this earthly life, Betty was born on the eve of the Great Depression, July 27, 1930 in Cabarrus County to the late Robert Banks Auten and Nannie Mae Shoe Auten.

Betty graduated from Hartsell High School and married Thomas Albert Sides in 1953. Their first daughter, Alisha Dawn Sides Wilson (Gary) born the following year.

Tom and Betty’s wanderlust led them to Hollywood, California where their first son, Thomas “Tommy” Albert Sides, Jr. (Angie) was born.

Betty always thought there was no place like home- Concord, North Carolina. They returned from Hollywood and finally settled in Concord in 1965 where they had two more children: Mary Elizabeth Sides Lott (Danny) and Michael Scott Sides (Selena.)

After her children were grown, Betty worked at Concord National Bank where she was enthusiastic about the bank’s clients.

A devout Methodist, Betty always attended a Methodist church closest to her home. The family joined Epworth United Methodist Church where Betty sang in the chancel choir for fifty-five years. She helped with Epworth hot dog sales every Thursday and served on many church committees.

Aside from Epworth Church, Betty was passionate about Braves baseball, the beach, barbecue, and bargain shopping for her nine grandchildren: Ryan Robinson (Nikki), Blake Sides, Matthew Sides, Sarah Elizabeth Lott, Hannah Fritz Lott, Maddie Banks Lott, Colton Thomas Sides, Anthony (Courtney) Helton, and Sullivan Stevens.

When not at Epworth Church or watching Braves baseball, you could find Betty at the Salvation Army helping the Women’s Auxiliary. Betty never missed a Christmas Season ringing the Salvation Army bell with her grandchildren, at Harris Teeter raising money for the needy.

Betty loved decorating for every season, Christmas being her favorite. She belonged to Concord Decorator’s Club that met monthly to share interior design ideas. Betty was also a long-standing member of the Dogwood Garden Club and enjoyed lunches and dinners out with her Lunch Bunch “Party of Ten.”

Betty leaves behind a heartbroken brother, Jimmy S. Auten (Lynda) and sisters-in-law, Barbara Measmer and Johnnsie Auten.

Anyone who knew Betty experienced her love of writing and sending cards. She had an extensive stationery wardrobe to which she penned notes to her special nieces and nephews: Lu-Ann Wyatt Tomlin (Tracy), Dianne Measmer Baker (Frankie), Ellen Measmer Propst (Bobby), Debra Wyatt Harrison, Louise Sides, Terri Sides, Kimberly Jean Auten Wray (Eddie), Cheryl Hammill White (Keith), Nancy Cain, Bobby Gene Hammill (Annette), Patty Penn (Damon), Deb Furr (Rick), Richard Shoe (Patty), Marla Auten Furr (Ray), Tana Auten Kiker, Johnny Pendleton, Betty Ann Auten Hartsell and Bobby Vann Auten (Karen).

A celebration of Betty Auten Sides will be led by her children at Epworth UMC, on Saturday November 6. The service will be 1:00pm in the sanctuary with a visitation prior, from 11:00am to 12:45pm. She will be laid to rest beside her husband, Tom at Carolina Memorial Park.

Memorials can be left to Epworth United Methodist Church, 1030 Burrage Road, Concord, NC 28025.