Mr. Roy Allen Eckert III

Roy “Rick” Allen Eckert, III went home to be with his Heavenly Father on Friday, September 13, 2024. Rick was born May 2, 1951 to Irene Hunter and Roy Allen Eckert, II at Camp Carson (now Ft. Carson), Colorado. Both Rick’s parents preceded him in death. Rick grew up in Springfield, Missouri where he attended elementary and high school. He continued his education, graduating from Southwest Missouri State University with a Bachelor of Science in Urban Geography and City Planning and from Ambassador College with a Bachelor of Arts in Speech and Public Relations. Rick also held a Master of Arts in Political Geography from the University of Missouri. By profession, Rick spent his entire career of more than 30 years in municipal management and consulting, serving as City Administrator in Lake Ozark and Osage Beach, MO; City Manager in Orange Beach, AL; Ketchikan Gateway Borough Manager in Ketchikan, AK, Interim City Manager in Powder Springs, GA; County Manager in Montrose County, CO; and City Manager in Wellington and Pratt, KS. During his career, Rick also served as City Management Consultant and Urban Policy Advisor with the University of Tennessee where he worked with towns and cities around the state to provide municipal management leadership and support. In addition, he spent a year in the United Arab Emirates as a consultant with CH2M Hill where he developed the governance structure for a new city in Abu Dhabi. On returning to the US, Rick continued with CH2M Hill as a project manager in Atlanta, GA where he met the love of his life, Jan, who would become his wife. Rick was a member of the International City/County Management Association for more than 25 years. His hobbies and interests included photography, wood carving, traveling with Jan, and working outside on the property where they built their home in Pratt. Most of all, Rick’s passion was Bible study and research. He and Jan attended Isabel Church of Christ. Rick is survived by his loving wife, Jan, of more than 14 years. Rick is also survived by three children, Roy Allen Eckert IV (Jessie), Ketchikan, AK; Alanna (Matt) Eckert, Chandler, AZ; Adrian (Nils) Hordon, Cape Coral, FL, a sister, Johanna (Carter) Chadwick, Craig, CO; and four grandchildren, Hunter and Scarlet Eckert and Parker and Garrett Hordon. Extended family members include brother-in-law Bobby (Charlotte) Bryant, Dahlonega, GA; sister-in-law Karen (Paul) Montecalvo, Lula, GA; and cousin, Debbi Roy, Overland Park, KS. A celebration of life and homegoing will be held in the chapel at Larrison Mortuary in Pratt, KS Tuesday, September 17, 2024 at 2:00 p.m., with John Hamm officiating. A graveside service will be held at Pine Grove Cemetery, Gillsville, GA Thursday, September 19, 2024 at 11:30 a.m., with Rev. John Wayne Abernathy officiating. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Alzheimer’s Association of Central and Western Kansas or to Emmanuel Community Church, Gillsville, GA for the Pine Grove Cemetery Fund. Larrison Mortuary, Pratt, KS and Little-Ward Funeral Home, Commerce, GA are in charge of arrangements.

Mr. Roy Allen Eckert III

May 2, 1951 - September 13, 2024