Sally Lee Eckhart

Sally Lee (Horn) Eckhart passed away peacefully on August 19, 2026, surrounded by her family. Born on November 30, 1943, in Marshalltown, Iowa, Sally was the oldest child of Eldon and Eileen (Olmsted) Horn.

Sally graduated from Melbourne High School and married the love of her life, Donald L. Eckhart, on December 17, 1960. They began their married life together in Ames, Iowa, while Don attended Iowa State University. For more than 40 years, Sally supported Donald in his career as the golf course superintendent at Oakwood Country Club in Coal Valley, Illinois. Together, they built a beautiful life centered around family, community, and the many people whose lives they touched. Donald preceded her in death on August 16, 2022.

Sally retired from Sentry Insurance and recently relocated to Preston Pointe in Morrisville, North Carolina, to be closer to her family.

Sally enjoyed reading, sewing, baking, gardening, cheering on the Iowa State Cyclones and playing Wordle daily with her daughter. Sally especially cherished time spent with her family and friends.

She will be remembered for her warmth and kindness and her beautiful flower beds. We will think of her often but a little extra each Christmas when we hang our custom cross-stitched Christmas stockings she made for each family member (including our family dogs)! We will carry on her family tradition of baking dozens of Christmas cookies to share with family and friends and Swedish tea rings for Christmas brunch. And although none of us will live up to her standards of a clean house, we will smile and think of her every time we try!

Sally was preceded in death by her parents, Eldon and Eileen (Olmsted) Horn; her husband, Donald L. Eckhart; and her sister, Susan K. Lane of Marshalltown, Iowa.

She is survived by her sister, Tereca “Teri” Ridout of Wake Forest, North Carolina; her brothers, Alan “Butch” (Debbie) Horn and Todd (Carol) Horn of Melbourne, Iowa; her daughter, Kelly (Jim) Johnson of Charlotte, North Carolina; and her son, Michael (Jennifer) Eckhart of Fredericksburg, Virginia. She is also survived by her five grandchildren: Kiersten (Greg) Lawson of Holly Springs, North Carolina; Kaitlyn (Harley) Medlin of Wilson’s Mills, North Carolina; Austin Eckhart of Falls Church, Virginia; and Logan Eckhart and Ashlyn Eckhart of Fredericksburg, Virginia; as well as her great-grandson, Lucas Lawson.

Sally leaves behind a lifetime of memories and the love of a family who will miss her dearly. Her legacy will live on through her children, grandchildren, great-grandson, and the many lives she touched throughout her life.

Sally’s life will be celebrated at Brown-Wynn Funeral Home in Cary, North Carolina, on Friday, August 28, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. She will be laid to rest at Rose Hill Memorial Gardens in Marshalltown, Iowa, at a later date.

In lieu of flowers you may wish to make a donation in Sally’s memory to Transitions Lifecare of Raleigh, North Carolina, at http://www.transitionslifecare.org.