Linda Raye Eastham
Friday, August 4th, 2023 at 1:00 P.M.
Linda Raye Eastham, age 78 of Somerset, Kentucky, passed away peacefully on Monday, July 31, 2023, with her family and 2 special dogs by her side.
She was born at Saint Anns Hospital in Columbus, Ohio on January 21,1945, to H.H. (Bud) and Ruth Lough.
She spent her childhood years in Pataskala, Ohio, helping on the family chicken farm and later working for her father’s business, Bud’s Meat Market. She loved riding her horses, being a majorette, and utilizing her artistic talent of drawing and painting. She graduated High school Co-Valedictorian from Watkins Memorial, class of 1963, she went on to attend Miami University, Ohio State University and received her bachelor’s degree, master’s degree and Rank 1 from Eastern Kentucky University, in Elementary through Highschool Education.
Her 32-year career of teaching began in Millersport Ohio, then transitioned to the Louisville School system, Ferguson Elementary and she retired from Southern Elementary in the Pulaski County School System. She taught Kindergarten, 3rd grade, fourth grade, sixth grade and ended with her passion by teaching a science lab to all the elementary students. Her love of teaching inspired her to open a teacher’s supply store, that she ran for several years during her working career.
She was a lady of strong faith and attended the First United Methodist Church. She accepted Christ as her Lord and Savior on March 29, 1953. She developed many special friendships in her later years with the ladies and gentlemen that cooked at the church on Wednesday nights. She was always referred to by many friends and family as a selfless servant. Those that knew her always commented on her kindness and willingness to serve.
Linda spent her retirement years being “Gran Gran” to her grandchildren and great grandchildren. From sitting in the stands at all the ballgames, to allowing the girls to practice Spa days on her, her children and grands were the center of her world. Linda could always be found attending to her flowers in her gardens. She frequently shared the beauty of nature and the meaning of each flower that she planted with friends and families. She often would take seedlings and grow them until they could survive on their own and then give them to someone to plant and watch them grow. This was the same that she did for her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and students, she nurtured them and gave them the care needed to carry her beauty on past her lifetime.
Linda is survived and forever cherished by her children, Derek (Andrea) Eastham and Kristen (Joe) Lyons. Her memory lives on by her three grandchildren, Ashtyn (Nathan) Carter, Chase Eastham, Calli Eastham and two great-grandchildren, Weston Coffey and Nathalie Carter. She is missed by her brother-in-law, Kuthbert Eastham and sister- in law, Clemma Godbey.
Linda was preceded in death by her parents, H.H. and Ruth Lough, her husband of 52 years, Odell Eastham, foster brother, Jimmy Poundstone, one sister-in-law, Vivian Eastham, one brother-in-law, Doyle Godbey, and one special Sheltie dog, Kajun.
Visitation will begin at 11 A.M. on Friday, August 4th, 2023 in the Chapel of Southern Oaks Funeral Home with a funeral service to begin at 1 P.M. with Brandon Patterson officiating. Burial will follow in Mill Springs National Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made to the Alzheimer’s Association. Southern Oaks Funeral Home is entrusted with the arrangements for Linda Raye Eastham.