Child of Two Countries: My China Legacy

Mary Beck Ecker was born in Yochow, China in 1917 to missionary parents Edwin and Irene Beck and lived with her twin brother, Bob, older brothers Jim and John, and beloved Amah. In 1936, she left China for the last time to attend Ohio’s Heidelberg College and then moved to Illinois, where she still resides. She is the author of numerous short stories, magazine articles and a youth novel, ＂Tai Lee’s Precious Seed＂, published in 1948. Married the same year to Paul L. Ecker, Mary’s career path has included work as a teacher, writer, antiques dealer, and mother of three daughters: Paula, Sarah and Patricia, and son Christopher. Sarah Ecker Marquis is Mary’s daughter and a media and communications specialist. Raised in Illinois, Sarah graduated from Florida State University and currently resides in California.