Nell B. Eckley

Nell Bernice Eckley, 99, passed away on January 29, 2025 at her home at Luther Oaks.

Nell Eckley, daughter of William and Helena Mann, was born March 12, 1925 in Walters, Oklahoma. Her grandmother, an immigrant from Germany, delivered her. Nell was only two years old when her mother died, and she was raised by her half sister and her husband. She grew up in Oklahoma and Texas and graduated from the University of Texas with a degree in English in 1946.

Her grandfather, Christopher Columbus Mann, was born in 1774 and lived to be 111 years of age. He was the father of 26 children, from two marriages. Her father was born in 1853, when his father was 79. Nell was born when her father was 72. As a result, the three generations spanned 251 years. Her grandfather lived near Lawrence, Kansas during the Civil War, where he was attacked by William Quantrill’s Confederate Raiders when he was 89. One of the Raiders struck him with a revolver and broke out two of his teeth. Her father was 10 years old at the time and vividly recalled his pregnant mother, begging to get the baby clothes from their home as the Raiders started to burn it.

Nell met Robert Eckley during WWII, while he was in the Coast Guard. His ship frequently returned to Houston for repairs, allowing their romance to develop. They were married in the Appleton Chapel of Harvard University on March 28, 1947. Nell worked as a teacher in Boston for several years while Robert completed his degree. They later lived in Lawrence, Kansas; Kansas City, Missouri; and Peoria, Illinois. In 1968, they moved to Bloomington, Illinois when Robert was appointed president of Illinois Wesleyan University. During their 18 year presidency, she led major campus landscaping and renovation projects. For these activities, she was recognized by the University’s Board of Trustees who named the student lounge of Memorial Center in her honor.

She was a member of the Four O’Clock History Club, McLean County Historical Society, Chapter CL of PEO, and Wesley United Methodist Church.

Nell was a wonderful wife and mother and an inspiration to others. She was greatly admired for her love of conversation and laughter, and her gratitude for her long and rich life.

She is survived by her four children, Robert (Mary), Jane (David), Paul (Penelope), Rebecca (Ken), and grandchildren William, Tessa, Adriane, John, and Alex. Her husband preceded her in death in 2012.

The family would like to express their gratitude to her excellent Synergy caregivers and Luther Oaks for their kind assistance.

A memorial service will be held at Luther Oaks on Sunday, February 2nd at 4 PM. Memorials may be sent to the Robert S. Eckley Scholarship Fund at Illinois Wesleyan University or Wesley United Methodist Church.