Eric James De Boer

Lovingly written by his Dad Roy . . .

Eric was very open and plain-spoken all his life. Most everyone accepted Eric with the same sense of clarity and innocence that they knew he would understand.

As a child, he wore out two tricycles visiting his "circle of friends" in our neighborhood. Eric went tent camping with us and our friends throughout most parks and campgrounds in Washington, the Oregon and California coast and British Columbia. He loved the outdoors, and eating campfire goulash. He truly loved the beauty of nature and treasured the times with the animals, wild flowers, clear warm days and the snow-capped Olympic Mountains. He even endured the rain in true Eric fashion, a shrug.

In grade school Eric experienced some unpleasantness due to his lack of normal interpersonal skills. These challenges led him to relate better to adults than classmates. There were some truly talented loving teachers who meant the world to him and changed his life in many positive ways. Gordon Kingston, Connie Lipsey, Jay Hatch, Elton Goodwin, Ernie Liepman, Walt Juneau, Bill Reichstein, among others, lived up to their calling as dedicated teachers. Upon graduation from high school, Eric entered several state-funded training programs designed to teach independent living. He learned life skills such as cooking, social and job skills. He was able to live independently for his entire adult life.

His friend and protective payee, Joe Abo, got Eric started in digital photography. Eric became passionate about traveling throughout the area photographing flowers, trees, sunsets, waterfalls, family members and his loving cat, Heidi. Eric loved to travel and having new experiences. He went to Great Lakes, IL to see his brother, David, graduate from Navy basic training. He even visited Hawaii with his mom, but he really enjoyed scenery closer to home, especially waterfalls. He showed his pictures to anyone who would look. Eric was a talented photographer whose pictures were always well composed using depth of field and light to his advantage. He loved his computer and wore out a couple of them looking up information, emailing photos to friends and relatives as well as storing his many photographs.

Besides photography, Eric was an avid collector and had many Elvis Presley music, movies and memorabilia. He loved art work and proudly displayed a collection of landscapes and Asian paintings on his walls. Eric loved fine literature and often memorized passages from Shakespeare. He recently recited for me the speech of Henry V made to his soldiers prior to the battle of Agincourt with the French about his Band of Brothers.

Eric kept his apartment impeccably orderly and clean. A germ didn't dare get within a hundred feet for fear of Pine Sol and loss of life. At his apartment complex, Eric met one of his true friends, George Mayo and his wife, Kim. Even after they moved to Thailand, they kept in close contact with Eric. They visited him on trips back to the US to visit family. He looked forward to their phone calls, emails and visits.

He had a deep affection for his healthcare providers, especially Dr. Steve Frederickson and Dr. Michael Spieker. Eric struggled with diabetes and asthma for many years. Despite these problems, he loved to run and walk the tracks at both South Kitsap High and Bremerton High School. Weightlifting was another accomplishment. Once he got an idea in his head that appealed to him, he would follow through tirelessly.

Eric loved and was loved and is deeply missed. He fought the good fight; he finished the race; he kept the faith.

Eric is survived by his parents Roy and Bea DeBoer, siblings David (Debra) DeBoer, Nicole Miller and Jacquline Ballew, and nieces and nephews Devlan, Alena, Brent, Jullianna, Ericka and Danicka.

Memorial donations in memory of Eric should be made to the First Lutheran Community Church Community Aid fund.