Eric Carlton Neperud

The worsening back and stomach pains turned out to be cancer in a man so healthy that even doctors didn't realize how bad it was until it was too late.

Eric Carlton Neperud was a kind, gentle soul who loved telling dad jokes, studying maps, and building backyard ponds. He spent his free hours playing board games, adventuring outdoors, and snuggling with his two cats. But most of all he loved sitting with pen, paper, and keyboard creating imaginary worlds for others to share. He self-published 17 books.

Eric began his journey in Renton, Washington, and was raised in Salem, Oregon. He earned degrees in Business Management, Secondary Education, and Mathematics. He had many careers over the years, from teaching high school in Tennessee to being a grocery store produce manager in Montana, to owning/running a hotel in mid-coast Maine. His final career was as Cashier Supervisor at the Community Colleges of Spokane.

Eric loved Yellowstone National Park and worked there for nine summer seasons and one winter. This is where as a young man he met his first wife, Leigh Averitt, who was a server in the employee cafeteria. After his 19-year marriage to Leigh faltered, he returned to Yellowstone to rediscover himself. There he stumbled on the second love of his life, Saundra Schimmelpfennig. She was also a Yellowstone returnee and cooked in the employee cafeteria - apparently the perfect setting for an introvert to date. Saundra and Eric married on Cinco de Mayo in 2012 - they chose this day because of their love of Mexican food and ability to remember the date.

The two enjoyed adventures together, once living on a houseboat in Boston for an entire cold month of February. They moved often, and because Eric was a "nester" they always purchased and remodeled homes in each new town. After they successfully guided their hotel through Covid, Eric told Saundra "I don't want to die in Maine." While that feels prescient now, at the time he just knew he wanted to return to the West to be close to family and to the landscape he loved. They sold their hotel and bought a 100-year-old craftsman in Spokane - this time too exhausted to paint and remodel. Eric and Saundra enjoyed 18 months of biking the Centennial Trail, picking fruit on Green Bluff, attending festivals, and visiting family before the first hint of cancer was mentioned. Sadly, he passed away at home just 5 weeks later.

Eric was preceded in death by his father, Stanley Neperud. He leaves behind his wife, Saundra Neperud, mother, Judy Hasche, half-sister Kimberly Keech, brother Gary Neperud, sister Karen Hunter, step-sister Angela Roush, and step-brother Jason Hasche.

A Celebration of Life for Eric Neperud will be held in Spokane, Washington, on Monday, November 20th from 4 - 6 pm at Heritage Funeral Home, 508 N. Government Way. His funeral will be held in Stayton, Oregon, on December 2nd, 12:00 (noon) at Weddle Funeral Service, at 1777 N. Third Ave.

Oh my love, we still had so many adventures ahead of us. You are gone too soon. - Saundra