Debbie Lou Souder

Deborah "Debbie" Lou Souder, age 69, of Salem, Indiana left this earthly life to be with the Lord in His fold of safety after a long battle with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, on Thursday, July 31, 2025 at 12:38 p.m. at Baptist Health Floyd in New Albany, Indiana, surrounded by her family and loved ones.

Born August 29, 1955 in Salem, Indiana to Earl Wesley Grigsby and Rachel (Duncan) Grigsby, Debbie was a 1973 graduate of Eastern High School in Pekin. For many years, she was a fashion merchandiser and stylist at The Fashion in Salem and owned and managed her own clothing business, The Clothesline, on the Square. She later worked at Newlon's Shopping Center in Pekin before transitioning to banking in which she was a head teller for the remainder of her career at National City Bank in Pekin and then First Savings Bank in Salem.

On November 24, 1973, Debbie married David Eugene Souder, who preceded her in death on October 7, 2024. They had two children, Jeremy Matthew Souder and Jessica Heather Edge. She was a member of Pekin Church of Christ.

Debbie was a lover of all things beach-the ocean, the sand, the sun, seashells, and sea creatures. She was an Elvis Presley enthusiast and very much enjoyed watching her four grandchildren, in whom she took great pride, play in an array of sports and other activities over the years. Because of her grandchildren, for whom she each had a special nickname (Casey Bug, Mammy's Baby Boy, Myrtle, and Mammy's Monkey), she was able to endure a longer lifespan on this earth than most other individuals with the same debilitating disease. They gave her life and extra purpose.

Debbie was not dealt a fair hand in life-constantly trying to heal from physical and emotional things she never asked for. Most of her energy on this earth went into surviving, not living. As a wife, mother, and grandmother, she gave everything she had-her time, her energy, her peace, her sleep, her body, and her dreams without thinking twice. She poured from an empty cup just to make sure everyone had what they needed. She carried the weight of the world on her shoulders but still showed up with a smile because her family came first. Despite everything she had to endure, Debbie was a God-fearing woman who worked a full-time job, put three meals a day on the table, tended to everything inside and outside of the home, got her kids to and from where they needed to be, and would still hop on a tractor, without thinking twice, to disc a field or haul big bales. When her children were each handed their own life blows, she was the one who picked up the pieces. Debbie had the heart of a servant, and her love was fierce, selfless, and unconditional.

Debbie was preceded in death by her parents, Earl & Rachel, and her brother, Robert Grigsby.

She is survived by her son and daughter, Jeremy (Tammi) Souder and Jessica (Shawn) Edge, both of Pekin; four grandchildren: Casey Rose (Easton) Bishop, Jaden James Cheatwood, Jazlyn Blair Edge, and Jaxie Isabelle Edge; one great grandchild, McCoy David Bishop; two step grandchildren: Jessica (Cory) Batt and Cheyce (Logan) Thomas; one brother, Billy Grigsby of Salem; and her companion and helpmate, Steve Harris, also of Salem.

Services will be held at Weathers Funeral Home in Salem on Tuesday, August 5th, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. and will be officiated by Jeremy Goen and Jim Mickells. Visitation will be Monday, August 4. 2025 from 4:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. and Tuesday, from 9:00 a.m. until the time of the service. Burial will follow at Crown Hill Cemetery in Salem.