Nowana Gail Sides

11/14/1937 - 11/27/2025

Nowana would want you to know how she spent her time on this earth rather than how she left it. Nowana Gail was a spirited child born to Eudilla and Lawrence (Lefty) Maynard on November 14, 1937, in Blue Ash, Ohio. Her parents were honest, hardworking people who taught her about God and His love. She shared an especially close bond with her father and often recalled his sense of humor, saying, “Having a good sense of humor makes even the hard times better.”

When asked how her parents chose her name, Nowana would laugh and say, “My mother used to hear a mom yelling for her daughter to come home for dinner. She liked the name and it stuck. I always thought that was a weird reason to pick a name for your child.” Nowana moved to Benton, Kentucky, in 1941 and relocated several times throughout Kentucky, Tennessee, and Arkansas. She never complained about moving so often, once saying, “I was a pretty obedient child, but don’t get me wrong, I wasn’t a total angel.”

In 1950, she moved to Royal Oak, Michigan, where her father became minister of the Royal Oak Church of Christ. Lawrence “Lefty” Maynard helped found Michigan Christian Youth Camp (MCYC) in Attica, Michigan. Nowana spent many summers volunteering as the camp nurse and later served alongside her daughter, who was also a nurse. It was during this time that she formed many lifelong friendships. She graduated from Royal Oak High School in 1955 and always enjoyed reconnecting with her classmates at milestone reunions. In 1959, she married Roger Sides, and together they had two children, Kristan and Cary. After Roger passed away in 1976, Nowana raised her children as a widow, a role she considered one of her greatest life achievements. She supported her family through her work as a nurse and dedicated her life to helping children, serving in that calling for more than 50 years.

Nowana moved to Louisville, Kentucky, in 1996 and made it her home for the remainder of her life. She was known as “Nonna” to her grandchildren and could often be found cheering from the sidelines at their sporting events or driving them around town in her red Jeep Liberty. She loved traveling to visit friends and taking family trips to Disney World. Nowana will be remembered for speaking her mind and making people laugh. She loved to tell her grandchildren that she was an Olympic rings champion (which she admitted was totally false) and that she had won the “Best Build” award in high school (absolutely true). She had a soft spot for animals and often joked that she liked them more than most people, especially loving her many cats. Those who loved her take comfort in believing she is spoiling them in Heaven.

In her later years, Nowana was a resident of Sunrise of Louisville. She enjoyed BLT sandwiches with a Coke, taking rides around Louisville, and begrudgingly participating in crafts and activities. She told friends it was the best place for her and that she truly loved being there. Although several strokes and a diagnosis of dementia dimmed her once razor-sharp memory, she never lost her witty sense of humor. Nowana passed away peacefully under hospice care on November 27, 2025, at the age of 88. Her family believes that in Heaven she has been given back the memories she lost on earth and, most importantly, can now see the full picture of how God’s hand worked throughout her life for His ultimate glory.

Nowana was preceded in death by her husband, Roger Sides; her father, Lawrence Maynard; her mother, Eudilla Maynard Cox; and her sister, Tanya Maynard Grooms. She is survived by her daughter, Kristan White (Dick); her son, Cary Sides (Dawn); and her former son-in-law, Sean Murphy (Trish). She is also survived by her grandchildren, Brenna Pease (Ryan), Connor Murphy (Leslie), Brandon Sides, Daniel Sides, and Erin Harris (Parker); her step-grandchildren, Turner White (Cassie) and Martha Laurence White; and her great-grandchildren, Henry Pease, Mason Murphy, Ian Pease, and McCauley Harris.

A visitation will be held on Friday, December 19, from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. at the Northeast Christian Church Student Center in Louisville, Kentucky. A Celebration of Life service will follow at 4:00 p.m. Nowana’s life motto was one of Billy Crystal’s famous lines: “It is better to look good than to feel good.” Guests are encouraged to wear their favorite colors or floral patterns, as black is so drab.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Northeast Christian Church – Next Ten Love the ‘Ville Outreach, Michigan Christian Youth Camp, or Alley Cat Advocates.