Mary Evelyn Stewart Eckart passed away on Friday, November 30, 2018 at the age of 98 ½ at Neuvant House in Lawrence, KS. Mary was born on May 30, 1920 in St. Anthony, Idaho, the daughter of Carl and Elizabeth (Reed) Falk. She graduated from Stockton High School in 1938. During WW II, she and her sister Fern moved to Denver, Los Angeles, and Salt Lake City to work in government positions and support the war effort. They returned to Stockton, where Mary met and married her first husband, Edwin Stewart and had 3 daughters, Stephanie, Rhonda, and Jeanie.
Mary was appointed to the Kansas State legislature in 1959, after Edwin was elected but could not serve due to his employment. Mary was only one of four women in the legislature at that time and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. After Edwin’s death in 1961 and over the years, Mary worked for several businesses in Stockton, but spent 30 years as legal secretary to Stan Krysl at the firm of Hindman & Krysl. She retired June 30, 1995 with a celebration. Stan and Mary worked very closely as a team, and Stan attributed much of his success as an attorney to her.
Mary married Bill Eckart of Plainville, KS on June 13, 1969 at St. Thomas Church. They built a home in Stockton where they lived for 20 years until Bill’s death in 1989. Mary continued to live in their home in Stockton until 2009 when she moved to Lawrence, KS to be close to her daughters and granddaughters. She remained in Lawrence until her death.
Mary was a fun-loving person who enjoyed people and loved to dance her whole life. She recounted stories of those that could dance well and those that could not. A good dancer was always someone to be admired. Mary loved shopping and fashion and was well-known for the high-heeled shoes she always wore, no matter the occasion. Spending time with her family and spoiling her granddaughters was a favorite pastime. She enjoyed traveling and family vacations to many interesting places. Her family has many hilarious memories of travel with Mary and her sister Fern.
Survivors include her three daughters, Stephanie Stewart of Lawrence, KS, Rhonda Savage (Troy) of Independence, MO, and Jeanie Brown (Steve Blackwell) of Lawrence, KS; step-daughter Sue Eckart Riley of Holton, KS; two granddaughters, Barclay Hagen and Brianne Cook (Casey) of Lawrence, KS; and six great-grandchildren: Harleigh, Grayson, and Brogan Hagen; Cayman, Kiyana, and Brittyn Cook, all of Lawrence. Mary’s extended family includes six step-grandchildren and six step-great-grandchildren. Mary felt so blest to have her family close to her and celebrated many holidays and family milestones with them.
Mary is preceded in death by her parents, Carl and Elizabeth Falk; two sisters, Pearl Fulghum and Fern McDonald, first husband Edwin Stewart, and second husband Bill Eckart.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 am on Friday, December 7, 2018 at St. Thomas Catholic Church with burial following in the Catholic cemetery. Visitation will be on Thursday, December 6, 2018, from 4:00pm until 8:00 p.m. with family receiving friends from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. with Rosary and Vigil service at 7:00 pm at the funeral home.
Memorials are suggested to St. Thomas Parish and may be sent in care of Plumer-Overlease Funeral Home, 723 N. First, Stockton, KS 67669.