So sorry my dear friend and my sincerest condolences to your family. You had a special and loving relationship. I’m so grateful to have known him. A humble and super kind man.

My sympathies to Eric’s family.  A life well lived.

Dear Carrillo and Bailey Families,

I’m so sorry for your loss. I wish I had gotten to know Eric. We only exchanged hi a few times. From the comments I read and knowing how good he was to Chantal,  I know he was a very good man and a special gift to you all. May your hearts be comforted as you grieve by the blessing of his life and the hope of eternity.

What Eric got himself into ;-) One of our first family photos with Eric

Eric, you were one of a kind.

Quiet, strong, considerate and thoughtful.

Always present - except for when our young kids got extra boisterous at family gatherings😉All of a sudden, we’d wonder where you were and then realized how loud it had gotten and then we’d understand. And now, as many of our children have become young adults and teens - you’ve been there at the table talking with them, encouraging them in their interests and their studies.

Thank you.

When you married my mom, you probably got more than you bargained for. I’m sure it was daunting at first, but your quiet strength showed us you were here for the long haul.

You cared for our mom and took her on so many adventures. You created a foundation for her to be there for us and share even more love. I’m so very grateful she found you to share these beautiful years.

Thank you

I loved talking history with you and about the latest books you had read.

I loved walking with you in your garden and hearing you talk about your dahlias and grapevines and the next garden project.

You always asked what our latest projects and goals were and encouraged us in them. You believed in us.

Thank you.

You are loved, you are remembered and your spirit and soul lives on in our memories.

Thank you for being you. 💛

— with Eric

My big brother, my rock, always caring and always there for me.   He leaves a hole too big to be filled.   His years with Chantal were among the happiest of his life.  She gave him a family, filled his life with joy and beauty, cared for him during his illnesses, shared his passions for gardening and travel, tolerated his idiosyncrasies.  She enriched his life beyond measure.   I salute and thank you and your family,  Chantal for giving him so much joie de vivre.   

Many fond memories of Eric, the Salinas French group, Christmas Festivities and Music.

Celine and David Dalby

Eric, Chantal, myself, Selena, and Thu (my mom) at our first Roseville home.

To my family he was as a man filled with compassion and understanding. When we called, he was there with a solution.  We were just tenants, but it felt like he treated us almost like family. I didn’t know that when we left 6 San Jose St, it would be the last time we would talk. But, my family loved him and Chantal. Working in the yard with him will be favorite memories of my children. Talking to him about the good-old-days of Salinas will be mine. 

When I decided to run for the office of County Clerk-Recorder, he shared with me words I’ll never forget: "Young man, trust your instincts and always do what's right." That simple advice, filled with wisdom and kindness, has stayed with me ever since.

Every time we crossed paths through our work, he showed genuine interest in my life and was always willing to share guidance and insight to help solve challenges. His kindness, encouragement, and integrity left a lasting impression on me.

Thank you for being a source of wisdom and a true role model. You will be deeply missed.

I loved working with him he was a great mentor and friend he will be missed no regrets

On our last trip in our van in June, on our way to Seattle.

We were are so thankful to have spend the last year with him. So many deep conversations, from work to taxes, to economics, hiking, and cattle ranching. He was a man of many talents. He and my mom taught April and I to dance… kinda, I’m not good at that. He would play the piano after dinner or tie fishing flies in the garage or install solar lights around the house so we could see our way to the back door with all our luggage. I think my happy is broken. When you think of us please thank God for the great man Eric was especially to my mom and for the time we got to spend with him, it was a gift. Pray for our family as we come together to remember and celebrate him. That we would walk this path of grief well, close to Jesus who is always there and who we will joyfully see on that final day.

Eric changed our world when he married my mom in 2009. He carried a quiet wisdom, a wide knowledge of the world, and a steady, thoughtful way of making life better day by day. He was naturally reserved, but he still managed to put up with the joyful chaos our kids brought into the house. As they grew, he loved them, believed in them, encouraged them and gave them many opportunities learn new skills… and earn money! He was so generous. To me, Eric showed what it means to be a good man—curious about people and the world, humble enough to ask questions, confident without trying to control. Most importantly, he cared deeply for my mom. He was kind and steady, bringing both adventure and comfort, and leaving us with so many great memories together. Eric wasn’t perfect, he couldn’t ever load the dishwasher right, but he was exactly what my mom and our family needed. He was a gift from God. His patient spirit and generous heart and happy humming will always be part of our family’s story. We’ll miss him deeply. We love you Eric.