Lawrence Eckert

Lawrence Eckert was raised on a family farm dating back to early 1900’s in Aldine, North of Houston by parents Beatrice and Louis Eckert, with two older brothers Louis and Bobby. He came from a long line of ingenuity- his grandfather had the first drip farm and started the first farmer’s market in north Houston. Lawrence’s life was marked by this same penchant toward creativity and ingenuity.

After completing his farm chores, young Lawrence loved exploring, fishing and hunting in the local forest, fostering his lifelong passion for nature. He attended Aldine high school, and initially he wanted to be a farmer, but his father persuaded him that it was too unpredictable a life. Following the example of a close friend, he applied to University of Texas Austin in engineering.

His senior year of college, he married his lifelong companion of North Central Baptist Church, Letitia (Letia) Carroll. He and Letia survived college financially with aid from Lawrence’s skilled poker playing!! which kept them afloat until he squeaked by with a degree in mechanical engineering.

After graduating they moved back to Houston where he began a career in the oil field industry with Oil Center Tool/FMC as a young engineer. He was fortunate to work under excellent engineering supervisors and friends who supported his career and recognized his creativity and leadership skills, as he eventually became Director of Research and Development at Hydrill and Vetco Grey. He survived multiple company mergers and work for several oil drilling companies including FMC, Vetco Gray and General Electric Energy. Lawrence recounted many early adventures in the industry include working with Red Adair, assisting putting out an oil rig fire. He traveled to the USSR prior to glasnost and other world-wide projects that made for great stories.

Lawrence also had a rich life outside of his long, satisfying career in the oil industry. He served on the Aldine district school board for many terms including serving as School Board President--and felt proud to represent the district where he had grown up and attended high school. He was honored with a school being named after him, Eckert Intermediate School.

He and Letia were also active participants of several Baptist churches in the north side of Houston. Lawrence was a loved Sunday school teacher and was famous for leading the Royal Ambassador youth program including the annual campouts which included snipe hunts and encounters with “man eating plants”.

After retirement in his early 60s he got his real estate license and bought and sold land in East Texas particularly on Lake Pinkston, creating a beautiful community of lakeside lots. Perhaps his best creative endeavor combined his love for nature with appreciation of family when he built his own personal family ranch near Nacogdoches Texas named Little Valley Ranch. Using natural springs and adding a damn, he created Lake Letia, filled it with catfish, and surrounded it with one cypress tree per grandchild. He loved deer hunting on his ranch, and also bringing his grandkids to fish in the lake and play in the forests where he continued to lead snipe hunts and encounters with “man eating plants”. Lawrence also was a gentleman rancher with approximately 30 head of cattle. A rich source of treasured family memories, his ranch is one of his many enduring legacies.

Lawrence’s 6-5 lanky stature stood out, but it was his character, his quiet wise demeanor, and razor sense of humor that truly brought him notice. He was loved and will be missed by his wife of 63 years, Letia, and his three children Buckley, Lance, and Kimberly and his lovely grandkids and great grandchildren.

Funeral Services will be held at Brookside Cemetary, 13747 Eastex Freeway, Houston, TX 77039.

Visitation will be Saturday, August 28 from 4-8 pm, and a Funeral Service will be held at 9 am Sunday, August 29 with graveside service 10 am August 29th.

A gathering for stories, memories and BBQ is planned for Dec 4th, 2021, at 2 pm at Inverness Forest Clubhouse, 21618 Greenbrook Drive, Houston, TX 77073