Bethany, MO: Lela May Eckerson 91, Bethany, MO, passed away Sunday, October 24, 2021, at a Cameron, MO care facility.
She was born April 29, 1930, near Brooklyn, MO, in Harrison County to Leland Russell and Velma Roberta (Smith) Cook.
She attended country schools near Brooklyn and later graduated from Eagleville High School in 1948. On July 11, 1948, she married Harold Gene Eckerson in Kansas City, MO. She worked in Kansas City while Harold attended Barber School. They later moved to Eagleville where Harold had his barbershop. For a while, she collected payments for light bills in Eagleville, worked at the roller skating rink in Eagleville and sold Avon and Amway.
She and Harold had two boys, Ronald Gene born in 1951 and Gregory Lynn born in 1955. While the boys attended school in Eagleville, she worked at the school as the assistant librarian. In 1972, Harold and Lee moved to Bethany, MO, where Harold continued cutting hair and she worked at Place’s Warehouse.
Lee spent many hours enjoying her hobbies, doing crafts, landscape painting, embroidery, sewing, crocheting and knitting, gardening and canning. In later years, she started piecing quilts. She was very creative and enjoyed spending time with family including children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
She was a member of the Harrison County Community Hospital Auxiliary, Harrison County Genealogical Society and the Quilt Guild.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Harold, on December 10, 2016; parents; brother, Robert Cook; and grandson, Joshua Quinn Eckerson.
Lela is survived by her sons and their families: Ronald and Norma Eckerson, Maryville, MO, and their children and grandchildren, Jacki & Larry Wood with Hunter and Hannah; Christy & Phillip Morrissey with Jaden, Zoe, Lucy and Beau; Amy & Will Anderson with Ailey, Kaiya and Gray; Ryan & Lexie Eckerson with Henry, Evan and Noah. Greg and Pam Eckerson, Overland Park, KS, and their children and grandchildren: Kristy Eckerson with Gracie, Cayden, Camden and Cearstyn; Kerri & Michael Ward with Jolee, Laina and Dustin; Whitney & Zach Mervosh with Hayden, Kellen and Matthew; Ashley Eckerson & Brian Sherman with Roman and a baby girl due in December.
The family will receive friends from 1:00-2:00 p.m. Saturday, October 30 at Roberson Funeral Home, Bethany, MO with private family graveside services following. Memorials may be made to the Harrison County Community Hospital Auxiliary in care of Roberson Funeral Home, P.O. Box 46, Bethany, MO 64424. Online condolences may be left at www.robersonfuneralhome.com