Obituary for Sidney Wilson III

Sidney W. Wilson III

July 19, 1954 – August 8, 2018

Sidney Warlick Wilson III, 64, of Osage County, was killed Aug. 7, 2018.

He was born July 19, 1954, in Ponca City Hospital, to Sidney W. Wilson Jr. and Wilma Mae Leche Wilson. Sid attended St. Mary’s Catholic School in Ponca City and then schools in Norman, Oklahoma; Omaha, Nebraska; Fort Hood, Texas; White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico; and Salinas, California, before graduating from Groveton High School in Alexandria, Virginia.

Sid returned to his hometown and later settled in Osage County; he was a proud member of the Osage Nation.

He joined the Ponca City Fire Department in 1979, which he served faithfully for 25 years. While he loved his work, his true passion was being a cowboy – he loved everything about it. He could often be found on horseback, riding through the prairies of Osage County.

He was a true friend to many.

His friend Terry Moore said, “Sid was a great friend and will truly be missed. We all have friends that say, ‘If you ever need anything, call me.’ Sid was the guy I could call and he would be there no matter what it was.”

Another friend, Scott Garrett, said, “Sid was one of the most giving and caring people I know. He was proud as punch of his kids. Can’t think of one time I called needing help with something that he said no, I can’t be there or do that. He was a true friend who will be dearly missed.”

Sid was preceded in death by his parents; grandparents Sidney W. Wilson Sr. and Florence Dennison Wilson and Melburn Leche and Wilma Gean Smith; sister, Cheryl Wilson; and uncles Harry Braden and Charles Wilson.

Survivors are his children, Sean (Deb) Wilson of Front Royal, Va.; Shannon (Brian) Tighe of Spring, Texas; Russell Wilson of Fort Riley, Kan.; Kaci (T.J.) Haden of Latham, Kan. He loved being a grandfather to Tyler Rhoads, Brennan Tighe, Abby Tighe, Shane, Phoenix, Journey, and R.J. Wilson, and Tori and Trent Haden, who all adored their Poppy.

Other survivors include his mother, Rosemary Wilson; sister, Tracy (Roman) Kalytiak; brothers, Kevin (Jennifer) Wilson and Matt Wilson; nieces and nephews; aunts and cousins; and special friends and family, Terry Moore, Scott Garrett, Flo Drake, Peggy Wilson and Scott Westerman.

Funeral services for Sid are scheduled for 10 a.m., Tuesday, Aug. 14, at Trout Funeral Home Chapel with Jackie Vogel officiating. Following the ceremony, he will be laid to rest in Foraker Cemetery with a meal to follow.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Working Ranch Cowboys Association (WRCA) crisis fund, 408 SW 7th Street Amarillo TX 79101 (wrca.org/foundation), or Calm Waters, 4334 NW Expressway, Suite 101, Oklahoma City, OK 73116 (www.calmwaters.org/donate).

Source: Trout Funeral Home