Passed away peacefully on Monday, December 1, 2025 at the age of 96.

Mary was born in Fort Madison, Iowa on April 30, 1929.  Mary grew up in Brentwood, Missouri during a very challenging time between the The Great Depression and World War II.  She was a very shy, very serious, outstanding student; graduating from Brentwood High School in 1947.    Life had taught her strong family and civic values that she relied upon for the rest of her life.

She married in 1949 and raised five children born between 1950 and 1962.  She and her husband moved their young family from St. Louis to Southern California in 1955.  In 1966, Mary brought her family back to St. Louis.  She had a very successful and rewarding 25-year career at McGraw-Hill Book Company before retiring.

Mary’s faith was always a strong component of her life.  She was very active wherever she chose as her church home.  She especially aligned herself in her last 30+ years with The Divine Science Church.  She served as the Secretary to the Divine Science Federation International for 10 years from 1997 – 2007 and as a lay speaker at her local church during and beyond that time.   She later described Divine Science as “finding home” – her true calling, beyond being a mother, was being of service to others.

Mary loved the arts–St. Louis Symphony, Stages, Repertory Theatre, Muny–among others.  She was an exuberant St. Louis Baseball Cardinals fan.  She donated to a multitude of local and national charities.  She loved animals, with a special affinity toward cats.  She had a passion for gardening.  She knew just how to design a landscape, love seeds into fruition, bring ailing plants back to life, while giving all of nature in her yard the tender loving care to thrive abundantly. 

Mary is survived by her remaining loving cat companion, “Patches’’; her children, Barbara Eckard, Sandy Dye, Rhonda Cardwell (Bob), John Eckard (Don Wagner); her daughter-in-law, Michelle Eckard; her grandchildren, Jim Dye (Kelly); Tracy Gravatt (Tom), Dustin Cardwell (Cassia); Brandon Cardwell (Destany); her great-grandchildren, Catlin Messmer (Travis), Dalton Baldwin, Victoria Baldwin, Luca Dickerson, Reagan Gravatt, Jackson Gravatt, Graden Cardwell, Atley Cardwell, Danica Dye, Maisie Cardwell, Ronnie & Edie Cardwell; her great-great-grandchildren, Adelyn Welker, Kylie Robins, Elijah Baldwin, Mason Messmer, Kaison Baldwin; her brother, Richard Ruegg (Shirley); her nephew, Richard Ruegg Jr.; and great nieces, great nephews, cousins, and friends.

Mary is preceded in death by her husband, John Eckard; her son, Donn Eckard; her parents, Henry Ruegg and Mary Caroline Ruegg; and her second loving cat companion, “Joey”. 

A Celebration of Life Service and Reception will be held on February 1, 2026 at 11:45am in The Hearth Room at the Hawken House, 1155 S. Rock Hill Rd., Webster Groves, MO  63119.  In lieu of flowers, please donate in Mary’s Memory to St. Louis Area Foodbank, SmileTrain, or your favorite charity.