STERLING – The Rev. Frank F. “Smokey” Echebarria, 75, of Sterling, died Monday, Dec. 10, 2012, at CGH Medical Center in Sterling. He was the pastor of Tabernacle Christian Church in Sterling for 14 years; and worked as a blocker at Northwestern Steel and Wire Co. before retiring in 1997.

Born Nov. 4, 1937, in Sterling, he was a son of Exiquio and Maria (Rodriguez) Echebarria. He was united in marriage to Clementine Watson on Jan. 2, 1965, in Sterling. She preceded him in death on March 26, 1998. He had a love of music, especially playing the guitar. He enjoyed watching boxing and football on television. He loved spending time with his grandchildren, and never missed one of their football games. 

Surviving are his daughters, Carol (Brian) Miller of McNabb, Amanda (Reynaldo) Zamora and Vicki (Rene) Garcia, both of Sterling, and Melissa (Angel) Zamora of Cleveland, Tenn.; a son, Frank (Brandi) Echebarria Jr. of Dixon; a sister, Maria (Tony) Monciuias of Sterling; brothers, Jerry, John and Tony Echebarria, all of Sterling, and Ezekiel Echebarria of Rock Falls; and 12 grandchildren, Andrew “Porky,” Adam “Fatty Boy,” Jose “No Way Joe-Say,” Adriana “Lular,” Frankie “Kiko,” Misael “Sambo,” Santiago “Froggy,” Ashton “Precious,” Exiquio “Squeak,” Clementina “Nellie,” Rene Jr. “Arms,” and Easton “Mowgli.”