Yolanda Champion Eckhardt

Born in Mercedes, Texas in 1938 to Pedro and Petra Champion, Yolanda "Yoli" Champion grew up in the valley. A daughter to a farmer, she knew life in the country, working the fields and the ranch life style in Progresso. Yoli also spent time living with her Aunt Mela Adame in Mercedes and worked with her as a beautician. She was an only daughter and had three brothers, Fred Champion, Mike Champion, and Pete Champion.

A friend introduced her to Roy L Eckhardt Sr. and after a few months of dating, he asked her to marry. She said yes and the union came to be at Our Lady of Mercy Church in Mercedes. Yolanda became pregnant soon after with their first child Roxanne Eckhardt. A few years later during an extreme winter storm in Lufkin, Texas, Roy L. Eckhardt Jr was brought into this world. Yoli or Bobo as her grandkids referred to her as, would always say "It was stormy the day Roy Jr was born and it's been stormy ever since".

Yolanda and Roy moved back to the valley when Roy Sr. was hired by the McAllen Police department. And McAllen is where they stayed to build the rest of their life together raising a family. Yoli worked for the local hospital in administration for a while, then landed a job at a doctors office becoming the office manager. After decades of service for the doctors, she retired only to pick up another job teaching medical records and administration at TSTI. As her second retirement came about she decided it was time to hang it up and travel with dad. And most importantly spoil her grandkids rotten. She loved and adored every single one of them, all six. She was a busy bee of a baby sitter.

Mom and dad spent time together traveling, driving the hill country to view the wild flowers in bloom during the spring. Fields and fields of Blue bonnets were her favorite wild flower. But her most favorite flower was the rose, a Yellow rose to be exact. She had several yellow rose bushes around her house. She adored them so much that "The Yellow Rose" was her CB handle during the CB craze from to 70 and 80's. "Breaker one nine for the Yellow Rose, you got your ears on" was her call sign. The CB radio was always on whenever we traveled. It was our radar (Smokie) detector of the day.

Mom and dad also enjoyed the outdoors. Camping and fishing tops the list. They would leave their camper at Arroyo City for the summer and take the boat out fishing on the Laguna Madre at South Padre Island. They were often joined by friends and her brother Uncle Fred who was an avid fisherman. Yoli was a great fisherman as well, but her unmatched skill set was the ability to filet a fish with an electric knife in under a minute. People watched her in awe as she would clean an ice box full of fish in no time. Dad and I were spoiled. All we did was catch em. Mom cleaned and bagged em. We were some pretty lucky fellows to have such a talented woman with us.

Yolanda was also a great talent with arts and crafts. She made many, many quilts. Hand sewn by her and occasionally her mom and other friends who helped out. It was a nice social interaction. She made quilts for all of her children and her grand kids. They were always beautiful and themed for each child. She owned multiple sewing machines and could make just about anything. Her silk thread broaches were stunning pieces of jewelry. Yoli would also take the wind whipped and frayed American flags from the VFW and volunteer to mend and repair them. The vets were always so appreciative of her. She also sewed many things that were need by the church. She made the Pall used at church funerals to drape the caskets and one for the urns. She used her needle and thread skills to repair the Vestments for the priests.

Yolanda attended OLS church and was a member of the Catholic Daughter of America(CDA). She often volunteered when ever the church needed assistance in the parish hall or the church. She always volunteered to help out no matter what the circumstance was. She worked with St. Vincent de Paul to power the community in partnership with the church to feed, clothe, house and heal the poor in financial need. Her faith and commitment to the Catholic Church was unrelenting. It only proved her resolve giving her soul and time to her savior, our lord, Jesus Christ.

Yoli's other passion was gardening and keeping an immaculate yard and garden. She would mow her own yard at 80 years old. She loved plants and flowers. Had various citrus trees and peach trees and a few papaya and banana plant over the years. She had a basil bush in the back yard that was huge and it came back every year. Fresh basil was always at hand. She even took surplus basil to one of her favorite restaurants, Sweet Temptations, for their chefs to use. Her and dad had a great friendship with the wonderful owners.

If you know Yolanda, you know she loved pets, especially her dogs. These were some of the most spoiled animals on the planet. They made great travel companions for road trips. She always bought left overs from the restaurant home for her fur babies. Her doggie bag was truly a bag for her dogs. She had a mix of Rat terriers and chihuahuas over the years. The love and affection was reciprocated back and forth. They gave her unconditional love, under the condition they were served up treats. They all crossed that Rainbow bridge over the years waiting to be reunited with her. I do believe there is a lot of happiness in heaven with Yoli's arrival.

Yolanda had a big family with many aunts, uncles, and a whole slew of cousins. She was preceded in death by her parents Pedro and Petra Champion of Progresso, Her Aunt Mela Adame of Mercedes, her brother Fred Champion of Weslaco, her husband of 54 years Chief Roy L. Eckhardt Sr. of McAllen. She is survived by her immediate family of two brothers and their wives. Mike and Nancy Champion of Santa Maria California and Pete & Gayle Champion of San Marcos Texas. Her daughter Roxanne Eckhardt from McAllen, grand kids J.C. & Curtis Martinez of Orlando Florida, Gabriel & Sam Martinez of McAllen, the Twins girls Mia and Nina Martinez of Austin, her son Roy & Debbie Eckhardt of Corpus Christi. Grand kids Roy III & Katelyn Eckhardt of Corpus Christi, great grandsons Lawson and Oliver Jude Eckhardt and grand daughter Lauren N. Eckhardt of Chicago. Yolanda was so very proud of her entire family, especially the grand and great grand kids. She was affectionally referred to as "Bobo". Everybody called her Bobo, it was her term of endearment. She was a beautiful soul that will be sorely missed by all that knew her.

Visitation for this beautiful lady, mom, Bobo, Yoli, will be held on Friday July 17th from 5-9 pm at Ric Brown Funeral home 701 E. Expressway 83 in Mission, Tx. Rosary at 7pm. Funeral service and mass will be held on Saturday July 18th at Our Lady of Sorrows (OLS) Church on Hackberry at 9 am. Reception to follow at Rudy's BBQ at 10:30am on Nolana & 281. In lieu of flowers a memorial donation in Yoli's name can be made to The Alzheimer's Association online at ALZ.ORG. Thank you.

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