Gentry county Missouri, Obituaries: Scott Leroy Eckard Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm Submitted by: Don Raymond The Tri-County News, Friday, September 21, 2001: Scott Leroy Eckard, 52, Stanberry, died Sept. 15, 2001, at his home following a six month illness of pancreatic cancer. Mr. Eckard was co-owner of Eckard's Home Improvement stores in Stanberry, St. Joseph, Bethany, and Carrollton, MO.; Des Moines, Clive, Creston and Cedar Rapids, IA. He had been associated with the business since he was 12 years old. Mr. Eckard was currently serving and had been serving as Mayor of Stanberry for 17 years. Elected in 1984, he was actively fulfilling his duties as mayor until just a few weeks before his death. Mr. Eckard was born Nov. 3, 1948 in Westfir, Oregon. He was a 1966 graduate of Gentry County R-II high school in Stanberry. He attended Clarinda Junior College, Clarinda, IA. and Northwest MO. State University in Maryville. He served two years (1969-1971) in the United States Army, doing a 16 month tour of duty in Baumholder, Germany as a Company Clerk for C Battery, Sixth Artillery. Mr. Eckard was a member of the Christian Church, Disciples of Christ, where he was serving as an Elder. He was also a past treasuer and Sunday School Superintendent of the Church. He was a 26 year member and past Fire Chief of the Stanberry Volunteer Fire Dept.; a life-time member of the Stanberry Golf Club; a member of the Stanberry Chamber of Commerce; the Wing Nuts Flying Club; the Raymond Sager American Legion Post #260, Stanberry and the C&S Club, also of Stanberry. In 1991, he was appointed to the Board of Directors of the Missouri Municipal League. Mr. Eckard was preceded in death by his grandparents, Ralph and Stella Wood Geary, formerly of Allendale and Murray and Ethel Eckard, Hatfield. He untied in marriage with Susan D. Bruster of LeGrand, IA., at the Iowa River Church of the Brethren in rural Marshalltown, IA. She survives at the home. Additional survivors include a son, Blake S. D. Eckard, of the home; a daughter, Natasha S. Eckard, of the home and also Columbia; his parents, Rex L. Eckard and H. Kathleen Eckard, Stanberry; a brother, Stephen R. Eckard, St. Joseph; a sister, Ann M. Bayliss, Katy, TX.; nieces, nephews and other relatives along with the Bruster family in Iowa. Funeral servies will be held on Sept. 22 at 11:00 a.m. at the Christian Church, Disciples of Christ, Stanberry, conducted by Rev. Neil Blair and Rev. Frank Sherard. Music will be provided by Andy and Tammy Heath. Pallbearers include Laton Allison, J. L. Edson, jr.; John Groomer, Larry McCarty, Brad Noble, Max Bottorff, Steve Gage, Steve Lockhart, Greg McQuinn and Robert Schieber. Interment will be in High Ridge Cemetery, Stanberry. The family will receive friends from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. this evening at the Christian Church, Disciples of Christ, Stanberry. The body will be taken to the church in Stanberry on Friday where friends may call after 9:00 a.m. Military services at the grave will be conducted under the auspices of the Raymond Sager American Legion Post #260, Stanberry. Memorials may be given to the Stanberry Volunteer Fire Dept., in care of Gibson Funeral Home. P. O. Box 552, King City, MO. 64463, who are handling funeral arrangements.