“What it is, what it ain’t.”
If you ever called Eric, there is a good chance those were the first words you heard. It was his way of saying hello and instantly making you feel like you were talking to an old friend. That was Eric. Easygoing, welcoming, and real from the very first moment.
Someone once said the four pillars of a man are strength, wisdom, love, and vision. Eric carried all four of those in a way that people noticed right away. Living with Type I Diabetes from a young age never slowed him down. If anything, it showed the kind of strength and determination he had. Eric faced challenges head on and kept moving forward with a smile that made everyone around him feel like everything was going to be alright.
You might have known Eric from the football field, from his short time wrestling, or from seeing him walking the halls of Leavenworth High School with his unmistakable sense of style. Maybe you knew him from church, from the neighborhood, or from one of the many places he showed up just being himself. However you met him, one thing was always true. To know Eric was to love him.
Eric never met a stranger. As a kid he rode his bike all over town wearing those big glasses and not worrying about what anyone thought. He was comfortable being exactly who he was. People often called him an old soul, and the nickname Pa-Pa stuck with him because even when he was young he carried a wisdom and calm about him that made people feel at home.
Eric had a way of leaving pieces of himself in the everyday moments of life. When the Chiefs are playing on Sunday and everyone is gathered around the TV. When someone sends a funny TikTok in the group chat. When you see someone trying to find the perfect angle for a photo. Or when you catch the familiar smell of a good cologne and it reminds you of the warmth of one of his hugs.
Music was always part of Eric’s world. From Kendrick Lamar to Maverick City, from Frank Sinatra to J. Cole, he loved music that told a story. If you listen closely to the lyrics, you might understand a little more about the kind of heart Eric had. He appreciated the message behind the music and the way it connected people.
What people remember most about Eric is the energy he carried with him everywhere he went. All it took was one flash of that big smile and you knew you had met someone special. He was kind, gentle, and always willing to give his time to others. Eric spent countless hours volunteering with children’s ministry and serving the community because helping people was simply part of who he was.
Eric was the kind of friend who showed up. Loyal, caring, and always ready to lift someone up when they needed it most. To the friends and family who carry his memory with them every day, know that those friendships meant everything to him.
The Eric L. Miller Youth and Resource Center exists to carry that spirit forward. It is a place built on the same things Eric lived by every day. Community. Opportunity. Kindness. A place where young people are supported, encouraged, and reminded that they matter.
Because the truth is, Eric’s story is still being written. It continues in every life he touched and every young person who will walk through these doors.
And if Eric were here, he would probably just smile and say,
“What it is, what it ain’t.” ❤️
