Corda Mae Sides

Corda Mae Summers/Sides. B May 30, 1926 D August 9, 2020.

After living her extraordinary life, Corda Mae died peacefully at home in the presence of her family. She was born on a farm in the Creek Nation in eastern Oklahoma in the community of Last Chance. She left the farm at the age of 18 to pursue her education during World War II. After working at Tinker Air Force Base for a year in support of the war effort, and to save money for school she began college at the University of Oklahoma, where she soon realized her savings were not going to be enough. She transferred to Southwestern State University in Weatherford, OK, and got her bachelor’s degree in Education.

She found the love of her life, Densil Sides, at Southwestern State. Densil loved to tell the story of how they met. As he complained about how difficult his classes were, a tiny, beautiful young woman asked, “Have you tried studying?” Corda was strong, fearless, and confident, qualities our father always valued. Upon graduation they married. They were in love for the 50 years of their marriage. With humor and intent, she had a loving and generous spirit. She lived her positive beliefs throughout her life. Her generosity affected so many people. Moving to Oklahoma City in 1959, she and Densil raised three sons.

Corda was the mother all the kids wanted and could be counted on for support and the loan of her car. Giving up her career as a teacher to raise her sons, she devoted herself to them until they reached high school, when Densil decided to change careers. As he attended night school to become a lawyer, Corda went back to work as a librarian. There she met another best friend for life, Louise Howard. Throughout her long life, she never wavered in her belief in her family, friends, and community. Corda had the innate ability to attract new friends and family to her wherever she went. She kept her connections forever and was in contact with them all. She was on the phone with her friends, the children of her friends, her granddaughter, her sister and her niece until the day before she died.

After moving back to Okemah and the death of her husband over 20 years ago, Corda lived independently for years. That independence included driving into Okemah every day until she reluctantly relinquished her car upon being declared legally blind. At the age of 90 and blind, she started playing the piano again. It had been over 50 years, yet she played and sang beautifully. We all rejoice in her many accomplishments, in her beautiful spirit, and in her life.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 50 years and by most of her siblings. The daughter of James and Grace Summers. She is survived by her sons Jim, Clint, and David, and his wife Janene, her sister Laura Wadsworth, niece Cynthia Dunford. She is also survived by her granddaughter, Christa Pitman and her husband, Gabe and her great grandchildren, Grace, Jack and McCormick. Through Dave and Janene’s marriage, she has grandchildren Robb, Christina and Daniel and great grandchildren Quinn, Soleil and Elijah. From Cynthia; Leigh Ann, Phillip, Maddy, and Maya. She died peacefully in her bed with family in California.

Hers was a life fully and well lived until the very end.

Services will be under the direction of Parks Brothers Funeral Home.