Clara M. Eckman

Clara M. Eckman August 21, 1916 - October 9, 2006 Clara M. Eckman, 90, died Monday, October 9, 2006 at her home in Waco. Services will be at 11:00 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 12, at Woodway First United Methodist Church with Dr. Jeffrey Smith and Dr. Bill Austin officiating. Graveside services will be held in Panhandle Cemetery 10:00 am Friday, Oct. 13, with Rev. David Theel officiating. Visitation will be from 6 – 8 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 11, at Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey. Mrs. Eckman was born August 21, 1916 in Sandtown, Arkansas to Elmer and Amy Chaudoin. She and Don Eckman were married in 1936 in Oklahoma and moved to Texas in 1939. They moved to Panhandle in 1942 where they built Panhandle Laundry in the mid-1960’s and owned and operated it until retiring some twenty years later. He preceded her in death in 1995 after nearly 60 years of marriage. Mrs. Eckman was a longtime member of the First Christian Church of Panhandle where she served as a Sunday school teacher and in other capacities of the church, including the Prime Timers organization. After moving to Waco in 2000 to reside with her daughter and son-in-law, Kathryn and Jim Naylor, she continued her activity in church organizations as an associate member of Woodway First United Methodist Church. In addition to the daughter and son-in-law, survivors include two grandsons, Don Naylor of Waco and Gary Naylor and wife Vikki of San Angelo; three great-grandchildren, Lindsey Jackson and husband Rob of Burleson, Kanji Adams and husband, Danny of Plano, and Cameron Naylor of Waco; one great-great-grandson, Preston Adams of Plano; two sisters: Bertie McIlvain of Victoria, TX and Lissie Turnage and husband Ray of Johnson City, TN; and numerous nieces and nephews. Pallbearers will be Don Naylor, Gary Naylor, Cameron Naylor, Kyle Ballew, Brett Sanders and Jerry Lewis. Honorary Pallbearers will be Horace Horton, Ralph Carrigan and E. J. McIlvain. The family suggests memorials be to First Christian Church, Box 325, Panhandle, TX 79068; or to Woodway FUMC, 21000 Woodway Dr., Waco, TX 76712, designated to the building fund or the stained glass window fund; or to Providence Hospice of Waco, 4830 Lakewood Dr. Suite 5, Waco, TX 76712. The family invites you to leave a message or memory in our “Memorial Guestbook” at www.wilkirsonhatchbailey.com. Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey