Eric Thomas Ward

Eric Thomas Ward, of Hazelwood, MO, passed away Friday, September 4, 2020 at the age of 40. Cherished son of Thomas and Susan Ward; longtime boyfriend of Nicole Gebhardt; dear brother of Amy Ward and Kevin (Kari) Ward. Eric is also survived by loving cousins, aunts, uncles, and many friends.

Eric was born in St.Louis, MO into a loving and supportive family. At a very young age there was no question how passionate and intelligent he was. In his early days he could be found tearing apart the family computer to see how it worked and teaching himself the skills that would be an impressive career and hobby. Eric had an early introduction into all types of music and absorbed anything he was exposed to. He had an appreciation for folk, jazz, rock and electronic.

Eric had a strong sense of supporting the underdog and lifted up people that might be considered outsiders. He was known to be encouraging and kind to anyone who took the moment to have a conversation with him. He was always engaging and enthusiastic on any subject that was offered to him. He always had a strong point of view and made sure everyone felt the satisfaction of someone who understood.

In his lifetime Eric touched many people on a deep and personal level. You won’t find a single person who knew him that doesn’t have a crazy story about going along with one of his grand plans. Every idea that was acted upon seemed to be endless with potential. Being a part of his visions would often feel like a journey into an alternate dimension. He would prove to himself and others that anything could be achieved if you can dream it.

Over the years Eric has been one of the few that kept the heart of the underground alive. Many have tried to replicate the emotion that Eric was able to generate through his breathtaking dystopia but have only fallen into the category of another mass produced experience. He built his brand at any cost and sacrificed everything to bring this adventure to complete strangers so they might encounter that feeling of wonder.

Eric was always impressing his employers by being a very devoted employee. Whenever he took on a position he was always able to excel. At one of his first jobs (Border’s) he was a café manager. He always spoke about wanting to operate his own café since that experience. He truly enjoyed helping people and providing them with superior service. Eric primarily moved on to work with computers both hardware and software. He was self-taught in many aspects and quick to learn in others. His positions were long lasting and he was always valued as an outstanding team member.

Eric kept side work offering computer repair services to friends and family. He combined his passion for music by working part-time at The Wayout Club. Eric participated in setting up gigs for all types of entertainment. Eric was beloved by the performers due to his excellent care of their needs. He had a strong bond with the staff and received regular praise from participants. He assisted in building the PA system as he was known to do in countless scenarios.

There are no amount of words that can portray the amount of accomplishments Eric fulfilled in his lifetime. He always maintained a directive of motivation. His desire to add one final detail to every project he was involved in was moving and unsurpassed. He was a legendary soul that will never be replicated. We will honor his prophecies and celebrate his life until the end of time.

Memorial contributions may be made in Eric's honor to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

 Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic Baue Funeral Homes does require all family members and guests to wear a mask while visiting our facilities. Social distancing is required, and guests should stay at least 6 feet apart. Thank you for your understanding.

The family would like to invite you to watch Eric's memorial service online on Monday, September 14, 2020 at 12:00 pm, Click Here to View.