2022 12/11 – Orphia K. Outhouse

Orphia K. Outhouse passed into her eternal life on Dec 5, 2022, with family by her side.

Granny began her over century-long journey on July 31, 1920. Her parents, E.C. and Edna (Greene) Goodwin, were humble farmers raising five children during the depression in Omega, IL.

Orphia married the one and only love of her life, Earl Wayne Outhouse, on July 31, 1941. Earl left for WWII and was overseas for over two years. She eagerly awaited his letters. She tells of the time when government officials drove down their road in Kinmundy to deliver the dreaded news of a soldier passing. She and her good friend, Virginia Montgomery, who also had a husband at war, waited in fear. The letter carrier passed them by.

Orphia and Earl had two children, Linda and Wayne. A few years after his return from WWII, Earl passed away suddenly at the age of thirty-three. Left to mourn were Orphia and her two young children Linda (8) and Wayne (3).

Orphia, with her strong work ethic and resiliency, along with her family, built a remarkable life for her children and special niece, Laura. She worked at the Park Hotel in Salem and retired from Murray Center after several years of service in Centralia.

In her retirement years, she enjoyed taking group trips, sewing clothes for her grandchildren, quilting, and meeting her special friends at Hardee’s for breakfast. Her family already misses her fruit cobblers and homemade noodles.

She worshipped the Lord and had many friends in Christ at the Cornerstone Baptist Church in Salem for several years.

She is survived by her daughter Linda (Bearden), son Wayne (Vicki) Steavens, niece Laura (Goodwin) Lowery, niece Cheryl Langredar, niece Nancy Austin-Toth, nephews Ken and Keith Austin, grandchildren Stacey (Eric) Miller, Emily (Brant) Blackburn, Andy (Amy) Steavens, Zach Lowery, and Hannah (fiancé Jagger Fenton) Lowery; great-grandchildren, Taylor and Matt Blackburn, Makenna and Cierra Bearden, William and AnneMarie Steavens, and Zoe Jennings.

Preceding her in death are her parents, brother Jason Goodwin, sister Theo Langredar, sister Lois Austin, brother Doug Goodwin, son-in-law Bill Bearden, nephew-in-law Allen Lowery, grandchild Cory Bearden, and great-grandchild Madysen Lynn Bearden.

There isn’t a twig moving, Granny.

Funeral Services will be 2:00 PM Sunday in the chapel of Sutherland-Rankin Funeral Home. Visiting hours will be from 12 O’clock noon until the service hour. Burial will follow at Evergreen Cemetery, Kinmundy, Illinois. The family suggests memorials be made to Alzheimer’s Association and will be received by the Sutherland-Rankin Funeral Home, P.O. Box 97, 310 N. Broadway, Salem, Illinois 62881 (618) 548-1234 entrusted with the family’s care. Online condolence may be left at sutherlandfuneralhome.com