Mr. Ricky J. Eckley, age 61 of  Franklin, Tennessee passed away , Wednesday February 27th at Maury Regional Hospital in Columbia. Funeral Services will be held Monday, March 1st at 10 am at the Daves-Culbertson Funeral Home Chapel with Bro Wayne Smith officiating. Burial will follow at Maplewood Cemetery. Visitation with the family will be Monday from 1 PM until service ends at Daves-Culbertson Funeral Home.Mr.Eckley, a native of Wichita, Texas was the son of the late Billy Joe  and Nancy Crosslin Cooper who survives.Mr. Eckley served in the U S Army and had worked as a machinist. He was an ordained Baptist Minister whose passion was helping people. He had worked at the Tony Rice Center in Shelbyville and had obtained his Paralegal Certificate from UT in order to help with legal matters. He also had a great love of animals and enjoyed rescuing and finding homes for stray dogs and cats. One of his favorite hobbies was taking his son and his nieces and nephews fishing.In addition to his father, he is preceded in death by one sister, Debra Kim . In addition to his mother, Nancy Cooper of Franklin, he is survived by his wife, Brenda Eckley of Franklin; one son, Dustin Eckley of Franklin; two step-sons, Jimmy Darnell and his wife, Gidget of Lewisburg and Chris Poarch and his wife, Val of Flat Creek; one sister, Sherri Ghea of Franklin and numerous devoted nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews.In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations be made to the memorial fund at Daves-Culbertson Funeral Home.