In loving memory of

Eric Lee Bennett
October 30, 1981 - August 5, 2007

Some men spend their whole lives chasing their careers, their dreams, or their hobbies. Eric Bennett was a young man who cared only for the family he loved most of all. He could be headstrong, but his heart was so much stronger, as a loving son, brother, boyfriend and father. He left us too soon, but his life, and love, lives on in us today.

Erics story began on a cold fall day in 1981, as the snow began to fall in Fort Carson, Colorado that Halloween. Those were turbulent times around the globe, which saw an end to the Iranian hostage crisis, and the assassination attempt on new U.S. President Ronald Reagan. Yet on October 30, 1981, Dayrol and Saundra (Hildebrandt) Bennett found reason to celebrate, with the birth of their second son, a boy they named Eric Lee Bennett.

Eric joined his brother Dayrol, who was 18 months older, and would be joined by little sister Amanda seven years later. His dad was a combat engineer in the Army, stationed at Fort Carson, just outside Colorado Springs, while his mother cared for the home.

In 1982, when Eric was just a baby, his dad was discharged from the service, and the family packed up and moved to the sandy shores of Muskegon, Michigan, where his parents were from. They settled in a quiet neighborhood close to Glenside Elementary School, where Eric attended as a boy.

Eric had a wonderful childhood, full of friends and fun times (and his share of mischief, of course). He was a Cub Scout, and played Little League baseball, too. Eric was a talented baseball player, and played from the age of nine to 15. He also became a wrestler at Bunker Middle School, before heading off to Muskegon High School.

Truth be told, Eric wasnt too fond of school, but he had a great creative side to him, and was a gifted artist, creating beautiful pencil drawings and oil paintings. Often he would give his creations to his family members as presents on their birthdays or holidays, which were always treasured gifts.

Eric was always enormously close to his family, and they did everything together. He and his brother would walk home from school, and stop off to fish at Muskegon Lake or in Ruddiman Creek, and the boys often went skeet shooting or deer hunting with their dad (and their dog, Chester). Eric and Dayrol had a typical big brother-little brother relationship growing up, until one day the little brother realized he was bigger than his big brother!

Eric was especially close to his mom growing up, and she babied him a bit as a young boy. Whenever hed get in trouble, shed help keep it a secret from his dad, too! Eric was very thoughtful, though, and would save his money and buy her beautiful plaques with poems written on them for moms birthday every year.

The Bennetts did a lot as a family, too, especially camping at Vics Campground near Grant, or taking a lazy tubing adventure down the Muskegon River. In the wintertime, they all grabbed their sleds and hiked off to the Blockhouse in Muskegon State Park, where theyd fly down Hill F at almost 45 miles an hour!

Erics family meant everything to him growing up, though it wasnt long before he had a family of his own to care for. When he was a junior in high school, he met a wonderful young woman named Kim Morin, and the sparks flew between them. She was three years older, and had a baby boy, Miguel, but Eric and Kim had many things in common, and quickly fell in love. Eric also bonded with Miguel right away, too.

After two years of serious dating, the couple moved in together. Eric worked a few various jobs after high school, but eventually went to work at Grand Haven Window Cleaners. Eric enjoyed being outside, and working independently, and was a hardworking employee who excelled with the company. He stayed there for the next eight years, working his way up to Team Leader. He had a great, meticulous work ethic on the job, though the windows never got washed around their house!

Eric and Kim eventually added to their family, when they celebrated the birth of their son Tyler on June 27, 2001. Eric was so happy and proud to become a father, and what a great dad he became, as well. He loved spending time with his boys, and later on coached their soccer team, taught them to play baseball, and took them mini-golfing, too.

Eric remained very close to his parents and siblings, and they all did a lot together as one big family often. Everyone gathered at Erics parents house almost every weekend, for barbecues, card games, and fun times. Eric and Kim also enjoyed taking their kids to the Muskegon High football games, cheering on their Big Reds.

And despite their age gap, Eric was very close to his little sister Amanda, who also babysat for him and Kim quite often. Amanda was also a lot like her older brother stubborn! Eric was indeed stubborn, and always thought he was right, but his heart was always in the right place, regardless.

Eric was a very good-hearted man, who enjoyed doing things for those around him. He and Kim had bought a house on Barney Avenue, which he enjoyed fixing up, learning to do the plumbing and other home repair projects (except washing the windows, of course!).

In 2007, Eric and Kims relationship became strained, as the couple hit some tough times. They worked hard at making things better, but it was a very difficult time for them. Eric became very depressed, which was even harder for him to overcome.

Sadly, Eric died on Sunday, August 5, 2007, at the age of 25.

Eric was a wonderful young man, who lived his life devoted to the family he loved most of all. He was a hardworking family man, a loving boyfriend, father, brother and son, a headstrong man whose heart was always in the right place. Eric left us too soon, but the memory, and the love he leaves behind we will cherish forever. He will be greatly missed.

Eric is survived by his girlfriend Kim Morin; 2 sons, Tyler Bennett and Miguel Espinoza; his parents, Dayrol & Saundra Bennett; Brother Dayrol Bennett; sister Amanda Bennett; grandmother Peggy Genson; grandfather Norman Assink. Visitation will be at Clock Life Story Funeral Home on Wednesday, Aug 7, 2007 from 3-6 p.m. Services will be at Clock Life Story Funeral Home in Muskegon on Thursday Aug 8, 2007 at 1 p.m. Memorials can be made to the family. Please visit www.lifestorynet.com to share a memory or photo of Eric, or to sign his online guestbook.

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