Bruce Outlaw Jr. Obituary

Bruce Outlaw, Jr. was born in Decatur, Illinois on June 10, 1980 to Bruce Outlaw, Sr. and Dana Mathis Outlaw.  Bruce departed this life on July 27, 2022.

He accepted Christ and joined Gillespie Temple at a young age.  He attended Lincoln Junior High School in Carbondale, IL, but would go on to attend and graduate from Eisenhower High School in Decatur, IL.  Bruce worked several jobs, but his dream was to become a chef, landing him at SIU feeding the masses of hungry; students; and boy oh boy, the pictures of plates we received!

He loved to cook, and the look on your face when it was good was all the reward he needed.  Having no children of his own, Bruce was the best uncle a man could be and he was absolutely adored by his nieces and nephews.

Bruce lived life to the fullest, and everyone he crossed paths with could not deny his gentle spirit nor his infectious and ever- present grin!  His smile lit up a room, and you always knew when Bruce had arrived.  Good food, a friendly smile and love for his family – that truly is the man he was.

Bruce leaves to cherish his memory his parents: Dana Y. Outlaw Mathis (Memphis, TN) and Bruce Outlaw, Sr. (Chicago, IL), maternal grandmother Thelma J. Nance Nesbitt (Carbondale, IL), and maternal grandfather Vernon L. Nance (Battle Creek, MI), siblings LeKisha J. Nance (Memphis,TN), Terrence M. Nance (St. Louis, MO), William T. Mathis (Abilene, TX), sister’s-in-law Karen Nance (St. Louis, MO) and Nicole Mathis (Abilene, TX), honorary sisters Kemisha Key (Tampa, FL), and Quiana Scott (Oakland, CA), and honorary brother Sherron Sherrill (Burbank, CA), uncles Reginald D. Nance, Sr. (Herrin, IL), Daunte Nance (Battle Creek, MI) and Kenneth Rages (Decatur, IL), aunts Opal Rages (Decatur, IL), Alicia Nance (Richmond, VA) and Bridgett Nance (Houston, TX), two first cousins Reginald D. Nance, Jr. (Bonita, CA) and Mark Outlaw (Decatur, IL), nephews Trystin D. Nance, Jaelon R. Nance, Amare K. Dupske, Ayden M. Nance and Xavier G. Mathis, nieces Yulana J. Mathis, and Aaliyah J. Nance, plus a host of great aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.

Bruce was preceded in death by his great grandmothers Lena Wade, and Zona Nance, grandparents Florine and Theopal Outlaw, beloved stepfather William “Coke” Mathis and cousins Tamera and Chase Jordan.

Services were held at 12 p.m., on Saturday, August 6,2022 at the Jackson Funeral Home in Carbondale.  

 
Burial will follow in Oakland Cemetery in Carbondale.