Patty Lou Ecker

Patty Ecker, born June 18, 1941, joined the Lord on December 12, 2025, after a prolonged illness.  Patty was born in Galena, KS to Harold and Cora Paradee. They moved to Modesto when she was a child. She graduated from Modesto High School in 1958 where she met her future husband, Grant. Patty and Grant started Waterford Nut Company in the 1980s, and enjoyed farming almonds.  She lived in Waterford, CA for the last 50 years.  

Grant and Patty were members of the Modesto Area Street Rod Association and Model A car clubs.  They enjoyed traveling and collecting antique cars.  They were active in their church at Hickman Community Church.  Patty also enjoyed attending her grandchildren’s sporting events and was always their loudest cheerleader in the stands.

Patty is survived by her sisters Shirley Conover and Alice Johnson, children Angela Palazuelos, Rene Zocchi (Louis), Gayle "Muffie" Farinha (Bob), Coree York (Bill), Diana Sawyer (Jeff), and, Grant "Bo" Ecker Jr (Nicole), grandchildren Anthony Jr (Vita), Kathleen, Joseph, and Samantha Palazuelos (Sunny), Carlo (Sofia) and Gian Zocchi, Gavin and Joe Farinha, Bella Braden (Eli), William, Robert, Geneve, Winston, and Sophia York, Boston Sawyer, Ava LaChance (Nate), and Josie Sawyer, Grant III, Garret, Gregory, and Grayson Ecker and great grandchildren Leah, Jlynne, Jason, and Lukas Palazuelos, Camila and Gia Zocchi, and Amelia and Adeline Braden, and her wonderful caregiver and friend, Paula Wood..  She was preceded in death by her husband Grant Ecker, parents, Harold and Cora Paradee, and sister Marie Scott and brothers Glenn, Gene, and Jerry Paradee.

A celebration of Patty’s life will be held in the near future.  Donations in lieu of flowers can be made to Hickman Community Church with memo College Scholarship Fund – P Ecker.