James Eckley

The funeral for James G. Eckley, 55, of Mead will be 10 a.m. Thursday at St. James Catholic Church in Mead.

He died Saturday, Dec. 17, 2005, in Rochester, Minn.

He was born June 9, 1950, in Chadron to Gerald and Gladys (Smith) Eckley. He attended Mead Elementary School from the first grade, graduated from Mead High School in 1968 and graduated from Midland Lutheran College. He married Connie Erickson on July 3, 1971, in Mead. He lived in Chadron, Valentine and Wahoo as a young child and lived in Mead from first grade on. He was owner of Aggregate Carriers in Mead, Scoco Supply in Omaha, NATCO in Arlington, Texas, and Eagle Paper Co. in Stephens, Ark. He was a fourth generation of the Eckley family in the transportation business.

He was a member of the Nebraska Trucking Association.

Survived include: his wife; a son, Jay (Mrs. Kristy) Eckley of Mead; a daughter, Cori Eckley of Omaha; his mother, Gladys Eckley Johnson; a sister, Chrysta (Mrs. Monty) Walker of Cedar Lake, Ind.; and three granddaughters.

He was preceded in death by his father.

The Revs. Troy Schrieger and Charles Townsend will officiate Thursday's service. Visitation will be after 5 p.m. Wednesday with a rosary and prayer service at 7 p.m., all at the church. Visitation will continue one hour prior to service time at the church. Burial will be in Morningside Cemetery in Mead.

Memorials have been established to the church and Mayo Clinic.

Svoboda Funeral Home in Wahoo is in charge of arrangements.