Tara Eckert

Tara T. Eckert

Tara T. Eckert died of natural causes at her home in Reno, NV on Sunday, November 9, 2014. She was 45.

Tara was born on December 17, 1968 in Reno, NV to her mother, Grace P. Eckert (nee' Palmer). Growing up, Tara enjoyed a wonderful family life with parents David and Grace, and her brother, Rick. Together, they all enjoyed exploring Nevada's backcountry. At age 18, she and Rick, at their request were adopted by Grace's loving husband, David Eckert, who had already been their friend and father for a decade. She was a lifelong Reno resident. She had deep bonds with many, and was a beloved teacher, leader, mother, daughter, sister, and friend.

Her life's passion was Education. She graduated from the University of Nevada, Reno in 1997, a third generation female graduate of UNR in her family. She went on to earn an MA in Early Childhood Education from Sierra Nevada College in 2008, with specialties in reading and math. Tara taught at Van Gorder and Silver Lake Elementary Schools in Washoe County, and was honored with a Teacher of the Year award at Van Gorder. She recently received ELL (English Language Learner) Certification, and was a member of the Washoe Education Association. For years, Tara was noted for developing an annual Fairy Tale Puppet Show at the schools, in which her students would make and perform with their puppets. Many of her life's most satisfying experiences were in the classroom, and in one-on-one tutoring activities, connecting with her students and colleagues.

Tara loved working and playing with her horse, Scarlett, and enjoyed raising chickens. She was lovingly known at school as 'the chicken lady', and would often bring eggs and sometimes even her chickens to school. She enjoyed camping and travelling with her daughter, Bailee and her parents. She liked snowshoeing. She had two dogs, Keymo and Maggie, and would say that between dogs, horses, chickens, and her daughter, "She had 13 girls."

She is survived by her daughter, Bailee Eckert, her parents, Dave and Grace Eckert, her grandmother, Frances Palmer Brown and her brother, Rick Eckert, all of Reno. She is also survived by her uncle John Palmer of Sacramento, her aunts Jane Tenney of Sparks, Peggy Palmer of Reno, Carol Bonnet-Butler of Grand Junction, CO and Gloria Berg of Long Beach, CA, as well as numerous beloved cousins. She was preceded in death by her grandfather, Dr. Jack Palmer, and her ex-husband and longtime friend, Russell Snell.

Tara's colleagues at Silver Lake Elementary have graciously set up the Tara Eckert Memorial Fund. Those wishing to make a donation on Bailee's behalf may do so at any Wells Fargo Bank branch.

A Celebration of Tara's Life is planned for mid-January. Details will be posted in the Reno Gazette Journal prior to the event.