Memorial service Saturday for Louis (Eric) Erickson Jr., 1958-2019

Family and friends will gather Saturday (January 12th) to remember Louis (Eric) Erickson Jr. They are sharing this remembrance with the community:

It is with great sadness that the family of Louis (Eric) Erickson Jr. announces his unexpected and sudden passing on January 7, 2019 at 60 years old. For those of you fortunate enough to have known Eric, you knew a funny, sweet, and caring man who would give you the shirt off his back if you needed it and never asked for anything in return.

Eric was born and raised in West Seattle and was proud to say he lived there his entire life. He attended Alki Elementary, James Madison Junior High, and West Seattle High School (Class of ’77). During high school, he played varsity football and was a track star. It was also there that he met his high-school sweetheart, Deanna Tetrick.

Eric and Deanna were married shortly after high school and had two children together. Jennifer was born in ’79 and her little brother Louis III was born shortly after in ’83. They were the lights of his life and, in his words, the best things that ever happened to him. He was a dedicated family man even through tough times. He and Deanna eventually divorced and co-parented their children together. He coached his son’s basketball team, taught his daughter the proper way to maintain her car, and was over the moon when he became a grandfather.

In 1993, Eric was sent on a blind date that was set up by a co-worker. Sparks flew and there he met his soon-to-be wife, Heather. She was not only his wife, but his best friend and he would tell everyone he met how she had saved his life. He pursued a career as a medical assistant and loved what he did until physical disabilities left him unable to work. He soon took on the career as “professional grandpa” and manager of the Westview Plaza apartments.

Eric was a tried and true West Seattleite with strong ties to his community. He regularly frequented the West Seattle Thriftway to chat up the people at the deli or you would see him at The Bridge enjoying a burger. He would tell anyone who would listen about childhood escapades in Schmitz Park or how Alki has changed since he was a boy. He would bring his yellow roses as gifts to anyone who might want them. He had a sense of humor like no other and would even joke at his own expense just to bring a smile to anyone around him.

He is survived by his wife Heather, two children, Jennifer and Louis III (Kara), stepdaughter Rebecca (Ryan), and ten grandchildren (Nautica, Isaiah, Chrisheil, Jayloni, Kaylia, Tobin, Rex, Pearl, June, and Evelyn). He loved his kids and grandkids more than anything, and was having a great time being a grandpa, or “pop pop” as he was also called. He will be deeply missed.

Services will be held at Alki Congregational Church on January 12, 2019 from 12-2 pm. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Emerald City Pet Rescue/Kitty Harbor at emeraldcitypetrescue.org.

(WSB publishes West Seattle obituaries by request, free of charge. Please e-mail the text, and a photo if available, to editor@westseattleblog.com)

9 Replies to "Memorial service Saturday for Louis (Eric) Erickson Jr., 1958-2019"

  • BornOnAlki59 January 8, 2019 (7:58 pm)

    So sorry to hear this. Prayers to his family.Eric was always kind, caring and upbeat with a slightly twisted sense of humor. One of my favorite neighborhood kids since preschool.RIP My Friend

  • Katy L January 9, 2019 (7:30 am)

    Shocked and saddened to learn of this too-sudden passing. May Eric know fully the love he shared so freely in this world, and may God comfort Heather and the rest of the family. He will be missed.

  • Tamea Duckworth January 9, 2019 (8:09 am)

    I am so sorry for the loss of this wonderful person, he never failed to bring a smile to my face every morning at the gym. He always had something nice to say, he talked of his kids and grandkids all the time and how fortunate he was to have them. He told me once that he didn’t have a lot of material things but he considered himself a rich man because of his family and friends. I weep for the passing of this dynamic human being and those he left behind. 

  • Daniel Jeffrey Blake January 9, 2019 (9:54 am)

    One of my most memorable classmates.. To think, we went to the same schools but I never really became aware of this west Seattle gem of a human being until high school in Mr. Gervais class. Years after high-school kept in touch through zany emails and much appreciated Facebook activity. I will miss you dearly Louis, you were one of those people I wish I would have spent more time to get to know on an even deeper level. May the Lord and angels be with the family survived by you and missing you now. Love you Brother. Your classroom antics were memorable, but it’s your good heart and outgoing nature that will forever be tattooed in my memory of you. 

  • Deborah S January 9, 2019 (2:35 pm)

    Eric, we will miss you, buddy!

  • Ranny January 9, 2019 (3:50 pm)

    Eric would always come into our ground office in his apartment building and say hello, followed by a super random trivia question that kept us stumped. He loved his cats, and even took care of the feral cat living under the building. Thank you for the joy you brought to others.

  • Terri Batt January 10, 2019 (12:39 pm)

    I was saddened by the passing of Eric! It was good to reconnect with him a while back through Facebook he had sent me a picture of some of the guys we went to school with in their band asking me what basement I had taken the picture in but unfortunately I couldn’t remember. My thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends. Hang onto the memories

  • Gina January 10, 2019 (12:59 pm)

    I am so deeply saddened to  learn of this.  Eric has been the most wonderful building manager and neighbor to us for the past four years.  I will miss hearing his classic rock and swing music as he pulled in every morning, the thoughtful holiday decorations he put up in the elevator and hallway, and our delightful conversations (usually pertaining to random quizzes about classic rock).  He made our apartment a home to us, and he will be deeply, deeply missed.    

  • Wallace Hodges January 11, 2019 (9:01 pm)

              His light will still be with us, but in our memory rather than radiating from his presence.           I had the 10 year privilege of working professionally with Mr Erickson at Minor & James and then seeing him on the occasional doctor visit.  When I left Minor & James and opened an office in Cabrini Tower, Mr. Erickson was the ONLY co worker from Minor and James to attend my open house.  His ability to overcome adversity and cheerfully anticipate the future was/is an inspiration.  His love and appreciation of family and friends, his exuberant view of life, his unsparing self assessment and enthusiasm to become an even better person occupied our conversations.  It took real persistence to pry a complaint or two out of him so that I could assess his health.  I was shocked and saddened to learn of his passing, but after having the afternoon to think things over, I thought “now wait a minute,” this man was SOARING.  It was obvious that he would ascend to God.  I just wish we had had more time.Hodges

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