Orcutt, Edith

Edith Orcutt, 90, formerly of Earlville and Delhi, died Sunday, Dec. 20, 2009, at St. Luke's Hospital in Cedar Rapids following a short illness. Memorial arrangements are being arranged with the Clifton-Murdoch Funeral Home, Earlville. A memorial service will be planned for a later date.

Edith was born Aug. 19, 1919, in Belvidere, SD, in Jackson County, the daughter of Auta E. and Bertha (Connor) Shepherd. She lived on a ranch near Belvidere until 10 years of age, attending a country school. Her parents moved to Delhi where she grew to adulthood, graduating from Delhi High School in 1937. On Aug. 11, 1940, Edith was united in marriage to Raymond S. Orcutt at the Delhi United Methodist Church where they were both members and served as the pianist. After moving to Manchester, she joined the First Baptist Church of Manchester where she continued to share her love of music as the pianist for many years.

Ray and Edith had 50 happy years working together farming near Delhi. In 1959, they moved to a farm they purchased south of Earlville and worked for the Earlville Oil Company until retirement. On June 28, 1990, God called Ray home very suddenly. Her reaction was one of true faith in the Lord. She knew Ray would want her to carry on so she remained on the farm until 1993 when she moved to Manchester.

Edith is survived by two daughters who gratefully shared her life, Letha Newlin of Palatine, Ill. and Leah (Don) Hedrick of Marietta, Ga.; four grandchildren, Christine (Dave) Erntson of Brooklyn Park, Minn., Scott (Christine) Newlin of Cedar Rapids, Lisa (Craig) Trosclair of Metairie, La., and Jason (Natalie) Hedrick of Kenner, La.; six great-grandchildren, Daniel Trosclair, Holly and Katie Hedrick, Christopher and Matthew Erntson, and Kate Newlin.

Edith was preceded in death by her parents, Auta and Bertha Shepherd; her husband, Ray Orcutt; three brothers, Clayton, Cliff and Erlin Shepherd; and two sisters, Ethyl Clinton and Maud Hankins.

The family wishes to express their thanks to the staff of Lincolnwood Assisted Living in Edgewood for their care and love of Edith for the past 3 years, as well as the doctors and nurses at St. Luke's Hospital who cared for her. And a special thank you to the many family members and friends who visited and comforted her during her brief hospital stay.

Please sign the online guest book for Edith at under obituaries.