Russell “Russ” J. Southard

Russell J. Southard passed away on Monday, May 18, 2026 at home, surrounded by his wife and his daughters, after a long and courageous battle with cancer. A resident of Erie all his life, he was born on August 30, 1961, the son of the late Robert J. and Rosemary Southard.

After graduating from McDowell High School in 1979, he went to work for Dahlkemper Landscape Architect and Contractors for 47 years. He started as a part time laborer eventually becoming a Landscape Foreman and then Landscape Management Supervisor.

He was a member of the National Audubon Society, the Presque Isle Audubon Society, Ducks Unlimited, and Erie Zoological Society. He had coached both of his daughters in the Erie Youth Soccer Association for 18 years. He was also involved with the Tracy School Playground Committee, Tracy School PTA, Westlake Middle School PTA, McDowell Girls Soccer Boosters, and McDowell Track and Field Boosters. He enjoyed hiking, photography, birding, gardening, taking his dogs to the beach, music especially Bruce Springsteen and his daughter’s orchestra concerts, and spending time with his family and friends. Every weekend during every season he cleaned and shined up all 5 of the family vehicles.

Survivors include his wife of 37 years, Lori Southard; two daughters, Emily Southard and her fiancé Michael Polaski, and Isabelle Southard all from Erie; a brother Randy Southard and his wife Beth from Montana, many nieces and nephews, and several great nieces and nephews.

The family would like to thank the wonderful staff at LECOM Visiting Nurses Association of Erie Hospice, Wings of Hope, and AHN Cancer Institute at Saint Vincent, for providing their professional and personable care during his illness.

Friends may call at the Dusckas-Martin Funeral Home and Crematory, Inc., 4216 Sterrettania Rd. on Friday, May 29, 2026 from 2 pm until 8 pm. Private interment.

Memorial contributions can be made to Wings of Hope, 2253 West Grandview Blvd, Erie, PA 16506 and Presque Isle Partnership, 301 Peninsula Drive, Erie, PA 16505.