[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 8 (Wednesday, January 13, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E48]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     TRIBUTE TO MARY LELIA ECKHART

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. BRAD R. WENSTRUP

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, January 13, 2016

  Mr. WENSTRUP. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of a valued 
constituent of mine in the second district of Ohio. Mary Lelia Eckhart, 
known by her friends as Lelia, will soon celebrate her 100th birthday 
on March 22, 2016.
  Lelia Eckhart was born into a large farming family in 1916 with six 
siblings, in Lewis County, Kentucky. Beginning to learn the skills of a 
homemaker from the age of eight, she quickly became an integral member 
of her large and loving family.
  As her family began moving away, Lelia decided to join her sister in 
Portsmouth, Ohio during the Great Depression in the 1930s. As southern 
Ohio struggled along with the rest of the nation during the Depression, 
Lelia was soon in high demand by many families for her skills. Soon, 
Lelia was employed by the Bannon family of Portsmouth where she worked 
for nearly 60 years.
  Lelia's significant talents include needlework of all types, from 
designing to tailoring her wardrobe, and her cooking abilities are 
legendary. When asked to reveal her secret to creating such great food, 
she faithfully replies ``It tastes so good because I stirred it with my 
finger!''
  Lelia developed many lasting friendships which remain to this day. 
Central to her life is her devotion to her faith. She worships to this 
day at Cornerstone Methodist Church, from which follows the guiding 
principles of her long and story-filled life.
  I ask my colleagues to join me in celebrating the 100th birthday of 
Lelia Eckhart.

                          ____________________