Donald Eckart

Donald S. "Doc" Eckart, Sr., 78, of Decatur, IL, passed away at 7:10 p.m. Friday, May 1, 2015, in his residence. Funeral services will be 1:00 p.m. Wednesday, May 6, at Brintlinger and Earl Funeral Home, Decatur. Visitation will be 4-8 p.m. Tuesday, May 5, at the funeral home. Burial will be in Harristown Cemetery, Harristown, IL. Memorials may be made to the family. Donald was born August 18, 1936, in Decatur, the son of Ernest Jessie Eckart and Mable Gertrude (Stanley) Eckart Qualls. He married Mary Lou Goodbrake on November 25, 1979, in Decatur. Doc retired from ADM on December 18, 1995 and was a member of the union. He was also a member of Decatur Foster Care Organization and Illinois Foster Parent Association. Doc was an avid bowler and enjoyed riding his motorcycle. Surviving are his wife of 35 years, Mary of Decatur, IL; children: Donna Harris of Decatur, IL, Mike Eckart and wife Rose of Champaign, IL, David Eckart and fianceé Connie Poland of Warrensburg, IL, Mark Eckart and wife Marian of Decatur, IL, Tina Parish and husband Terry of Decatur, IL, Charles Davis and wife Becky of Decatur, IL, Donald Davis of Decatur, IL, Sonnie Davis of Decatur, IL, Stanley Davis and wife Cassie of Decatur, IL, Crystal Strode of Bowling Green, KY, Keith Eckart and wife Ashley of Decatur, IL, Malia Eckart and fiancé Ian Hearty, Sr. of Deer Creek, IL, and Heather Beard and husband Brandon of Hixton, TN; 51 grandchildren, 83 great-grandchildren and 1 great-great-grandchild; foster children: Cliff Majors and wife Sandy of FL, Mike Majors and wife Carol of FL, Marla Brown and husband Robert of North Augusta, S.C., Christy Schmidt of WI, and Christy Cummings of Decatur, IL; brothers: Ernie "Dib" Eckart and wife Betty, Larry Eckart, and Danny Eckart, all of Decatur, IL; sisters: Janet Larson and husband Swede of Gainesville, FL, Dora Escobar of Archer, FL, Polly Hoover of Decatur, IL, and Veronica McQueen and husband Ron of Decatur, IL: sisters-in-law: Phyllis Eckart Burns and husband Gene of Macon, IL and Jo Ann Eckart of Decatur, IL. Doc was preceded in death by his parents, children: Mary Ann Sheets and Donald Stanley "Huck" Eckart, Jr., one grandson, two great-grandchildren, brothers: Robert Eckart, Ronald "Nuck" Eckart, Bill Eckart, Jack "Joker" Eckart, and Cecil Osborn; sisters: Bonnie Eckart, Nadine Eckart and Katie Miller. "
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