Joan Davis Eckert

The family of Joan Davis Eckert, of Gainesville, Georgia, mourns her passing on Thursday, August 1, 2024. Joan was born in Plainfield, New Jersey, on November 27, 1931 to H. Douglas Davis and Marjorie Evelyn Schoeffel. She was devoted to her older sister, Anne, who sadly passed away at age 7.

Joan graduated from Bradford Junior College in Haverhill, Massachusetts, and worked for several years as a secretary before being married in 1954. She was married for 67 years to Richard (Dick) M. Eckert, who passed away in September 2021. They loved to travel, sail, and play golf together. Although they moved about every five years, they lived primarily in Westfield, New Jersey, where they raised their two daughters, Anne and Elizabeth (Betsey). While raising their children, she volunteered with the Junior League of Plainfield, serving as President for several years.

Joan was a people person and remarkably called everyone by their name, remembering and using those names even up to her passing. Her smile would light up the room! She loved chocolate, dogs, a glass of wine, being silly, and playing Scrabble. She was still beating us in her nineties! During her life, she mastered calligraphy and needlepoint, and Bingo (in her later years because she enjoyed being with her friends and the prizes were chocolate!) Above all, though, the role of “Granny” was her favorite! What she loved most was being with her grandkids, Douglas (Doug) and Alexander (Alex). She spent countless hours on the floor with them when they were young and on the phone with them as they grew older. She was thrilled that they are both engaged to be married in 2025. She has met and happily approves of their fiancées.

She will be deeply missed by her daughters, Anne Clift and Betsey Papp; her sons-in-law, Dave Clift and Tim Papp, and her grandsons and their fiancées, Doug Clift and Meaghan Allyn, and Alex Clift and Lily Saffa. She was a member of the Gainesville United Methodist Church and will be interred in the Memorial Garden there.

Memorial Park Riverside Chapel, 989 Riverside Drive, Gainesville, Georgia, is in charge of arrangements.

For online condolences, visit www.memorialparkfuneralhomes.com.

August 8, 2024