Shannon Eckert was a very loving and caring person, who had many friends and did well in school. Her two great passions were writing and horses. She had a gifted way with words. If Shannon could not express her feelings vocally, she would write them down. In a contest sponsored by The Patriot-News, the local newspaper, she won a Gold Key Award for a story she wrote.

Shannon was literally horse crazy. She started riding at age seven on Bill, the Eckerts’ horse, whom she loved very much. He was a gentle, loving animal and she could do anything with him. won several ribbons in showing. Her goal was to own a riding stable and name it Thunder Valley.

On June 22, 1999, 18-year-old Shannon’s life came to an end all too soon.

“When Shannon received her driver’s license, she told me that she had signed to be an organ donor. I was so proud of her,” said Tammy, Shannon’s mother. “She told me that if anything ever happened to her, she wanted to be able to help someone through organ donation. That was the type of person Shannon was, she always tried to help someone out the best she could. Through organ donation, Shannon has helped so many people live full and generous lives. Shannon may be gone but she still lives on in the people who received her gift of life.”

One of those who received Shannon’s gift is Jessica Melore, who will ride the float underneath her heart donor’s floral portrait. “It’s an honor for me to ride in Shannon’s memory,” she stated. “She was only a year older than me when she passed, and I often think about how we were in the same stage of life when our lives became connected. I try to take the best possible care of my heart because I feel like I’m living for both of us.”