Gary Marshall Sides, 68, of Monroe, NC passed away on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, at the McWhorter Hospice House in Monroe NC due to Glioblastoma brain cancer.

He was born on August 5, 1957, in Fort Worth, Texas to life-long educators, the late Charles Sides and Betty Terhune Sides. Gary grew up in Illinois, played football for his dad, was a page in the Illinois State Senate in high school and graduated from the University of Illinois with a degree in Finance. He was a member of Phi Sigma Kappa fraternity, remaining lifelong friends with his fraternity brothers.

Gary founded and successfully operated Marshall Insurance Services, with offices in Stallings, NC and Rock Hil, SC, retiring in 2023. Among his hobbies and interests were: spending time at his beach condo in North Myrtle Beach SC, sports, music, the Three Stooges, his cat Moe and dog Curly, cars (especially his corvette and 1949 GMC truck, named Uncle Jon}, working in his yard, American history, special needs children, and his Stetson cowboy hat and boots.

Gary was passionate about making Union County a better place to live. He served on the Stallings Town Council (2004-2005), and was elected to serve on the Union County Board of Education (2014-2024) and the Union County Board of Commissioners (2024-2028).

Gary’s faith in God grounded his life from an early age. Locally, he was a member of Lee Park Church and upon joining was baptized in a creek on a farm in Union County. He was actively involved in Upwards Sports through Lee Park and other churches, having coached many soccer teams while his children participated.

Gary was deeply loved by his family and is survived by his wife Myra Ingram Sides, children Logan, Gage, and Cheyenne; his sisters: Kathe Moseley (Gary), LuAnn Kube (Kurt) and Linda Waldsmith (Ricky) of Frisco Texas , and their children and grandchildren; his wife Myra’s siblings: Richard (Virginia), Carol, Mike, Carl, and Luan (wife of brother Jim), and their children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at 3:00 pm on Sunday, April 26, 2026 at Lee Park Church, 2491 Morgan Mill Road, Monroe, NC 28110. Visitation will be at the church from 2:00 – 2:45pm.

Online condolences may be made at www.gordonfuneralservice.com.

Gordon Funeral Service & Crematory, 1904 Lancaster Ave, Monroe, NC 28112, is honored to be entrusted to care for the Sides Family.