Marilyn J. Eck

Marilyn (Beisly) Eck, 84, loving mother, grandmother, sister, aunt and friend was transported by God's loving angels to her eternal home early Saturday, May 20, 2017.  Her death resulted from injuries received in a house fire.

Mama was born in Coffeyville, KS on January 25, 1933 to Ralph Minter Beisly and Martha Delima (Booth) Beisly.

In 1951, Mama married Donald Irvin Eck. They had four children - Cynthia Lavonne, Martha Jeannette, Ivan Gene, and Herschel Leon.

Mama loved the Lord. She never tired of telling how, early in her childhood, she was drawn to the Lord and gave Him her heart. The remainder of her life was spent in earnest devotion to Him. She was faithful in prayer, reading and studying God's Word, and in doing, with her whole being, whatever she understood God was asking of her; whether it was singing, making her version of grapenuts, cooking at the Church of God campmeeting, sending cards, or raising her four children.

Mama also loved her family. She was a kind and loving mother faithfully teaching us how to live this life with the eternal life in mind. She also made sure we had the skills we needed to live in this world. She was deeply interested in each of us, children, grandchildren and great grandchildren alike, and  thoroughly enjoyed hearing about and sharing in our lives.

Mama was a true "Mother in Israel" and was an honorary grandmother to many children and young people in the Church of God.

Mama was a hard worker and, in her earlier years, enjoyed gardening and preserving her produce. In her later years she could still work circles around us.

Mama loved, and treated as her own,  everyone who married into her family. There was no such thing as an in-law.

She loved on us with the delicious food that she cooked...breads, cookies, candies, granola bars, cakes...anything she cooked was delicious. If you left her house hungry it was your own fault.

Mama loved chocolate and would sneak a piece, then, with a little guilty smile, she would bring us some to "make it legal."

Our sweet mama was preceded in death by her parents Ralph and Martha, her husband Donald in July of 1996, and one brother Ralph Eugene Beisly. Those left behind to miss her include: her children Cynthia Meek of Peculiar, MO, Jeannette Ross (Larry) of Helena, MT, Ivan Eck (Eileen) of Edna, KS,  Herschel Eck (Jeanne) of Bartlett, KS, son-in-law Jerry Meek of Tickfaw, LA, her brother David Beisly (Leora) of Bartlesville, OK, her sister Janice Williamson (Wesley) of Loranger, LA, one sister-in-law DeLoris Bradley (Randel) of Bartlett, KS, 19 grandchildren,18 great grandchildren, a special "son" Ronnie Zacharias of Spooner, WI, one daughter she drew to her heart Betty Elam of Ocean Springs, MS, and a multitude of nieces, nephews, cousins, friends and brothers and sisters in Christ.

While we mourn her passing, we do not sorrow as those who have no hope for we know that Mama is in heaven and have the wonderful expectation of some day worshiping with her in the very presence of our Lord and Savior.

If Mama were still on this earth, she would say to each person reading this, "Make sure your heart is right with God. Follow Him. It's the only way to true happiness and fulfillment."

Funeral services for Mrs. Eck will be held at 10:00 a.m., Thursday, May 25, 2017 at the First Christian Church in Bartlett, Kansas.  The family will receive friends at the Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Parsons from 6 to 8 p.m., Wednesday.  Burial will be at the Lake Creek Union Cemetery at Bartlett, Kansas.

Memorial contributions are suggested to either, the Church of God African Mission Fund, the Church of God Monark Springs Campground or the Hackberry Township Fire Department.   Memorial contributions may be left at or mailed to the Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home, P.O. Box 374, Parsons, Kansas 67357. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Marilyn J. Eck, please visit our flower store.