November 6, 2006
Hard to believe that it's been one year
today since we lost Eric Alvarez and Jenna Young.
I remember attending their funerals, just as though
it were yesterday.
To everyone who is visiting today,
thank you for your kind notes and thoughts.
I've received a lot of heart-felt thanks from
people who knew and loved Eric.
This web page is only a humble offering
I have for a guy who was a well-spring of
life and happiness.
Most often I hear the comment,
"He made me feel like I was his best friend."
What a great tribute to the life and faith of
this young man who was taken much too young.

God bless you all and thank you
for your continued support.
My heart is with you today.

Sincerely yours,
Joel Owens and Family,
and on behalf of our extended family
- Russell, Rosie,
Tyler, Ryne and Tucker Lucas,
God bless.

[excerpted from the Abilene Reporter-News
by permission of Editor Terri Burke]
Saturday, May 13th, 2006

Some personal notes...

On a personal note, Teresa and I were blessed to have celebrated a birthday party in Rotan while sitting near Eric and Crystal this past Thursday, November 3rd. Eric was my nephew Tyler's JV football coach this year. They had just played their final game of the season. I enjoyed very much talking with Eric and listening to him tell about his plans for the future school years, his love of baseball. He told me about how he was having to "follow his students around school". There were some funny stories; Eric liked to joke about things. Everyone wanted a chance to spoil their baby Reagan.

Teresa, my sweet wife, and I are both very much in shock over this tragedy, and feel like we have lost a member of our very own family. We talked about how it seems the Lord gave us a special chance to get to visit with him and have some time getting to know him before he was taken from us. I know well that we are just a small fragment of all the people who knew him, and there are many others who were much closer to him than we; but we were blessed in a great way by him in the closing hours of his life.

Teresa's brother Russell Lucas is the Athletic Director in Rotan, and not only hired Eric to be the Assistant Coach, but performed their wedding ceremony for Eric and Crystal as well. Russell and Eric have been very close over the past two years. He, along with his wife Rosie and sons Tyler, Ryne and Tucker are deeply saddened by this very sudden and unexpected loss. I was very proud of Russell on Wednesday presenting the story of Eric's life and faith. He placed appropriate scripture readings at the perfect spots - showed the rest of the world what a decent and honorable funeral should sound like.

Teresa and I along with our boys, and Russell and Teresa's parents Billy & Sarah Lucas, (as is our tradition) would hang around with the coaches, the team and the families for at least an hour after their football games, especially the home games - visiting and enjoying their company. During these times, we got to know many of the people from Rotan, including our friend Coach Eric. Eric had the gift of making you feel like you were in his spotlight for the moment he was sharing with you. I've not often 'fit in' with the athletic types during my life, but Eric made me feel like I was a valued part of the whole experience. I always looked forward to talking about how the game went with Eric. That was a standard part of my Friday nights for a while now. Going to Rotan football games just isn't going to seem quite the same anymore, I don't guess.

As to my experiences - I had the rare opportunity of being the football game announcer at the last two Rotan home games this year; I watched Eric clap for those boys and get excited about their games from my vantage point in the press box. It was sprung on me the first game (Thanks, Bob Spikes - putting me on the spot pushed me to discover something I really enjoyed doing); but two weeks later, I had decided since I had time to properly prepare, I was going to do a professional job of it, so there was some research, preparation and typing done in the days before that game. Kept reviewing that "TASO Refereeing Signals" chart all the way up to Rotan while Teresa drove us. I kept all that in my manilla folder - Maybe again next year, right?

Teresa and I have been very blessed to get to know Eric's family, parents - brothers and sisters, and their spouses - during this time. I can attest to the fact that they are all very wonderful people; we certainly see that Eric came by his high qualities "honestly", as they say. Special thanks to Bobby and Rey, Jr for making us feel loved and appreciated, for making us feel a welcome part of their family during a time of great greaving and loss. They demonstrate that the love of the Alvarez family is shown every moment via great generosity.

So this week has been very tiring, exhausting, sad, filled with tears and sadness, but the sunset has sparkled with the glint of joy and blessings. Most of all, it has brought into the open the love and care we all have for each other. This I can be thankful for - there is hope after all.

Eric's life was known by his faith in God and in His Word. I believe in my heart that Eric would want you to know the blessings that can be found by being obedient to Christ Jesus by repenting of your old life of wrong and separation from God, finding the remission of sins in the grave of water immersion, and to be resurrected into a new and eternal life with God. Romans 6, I Corinthians 15, Acts 2, I Peter 3 It is my hope that you will consider this as you remember what the lives of these two outstanding people stood for.

God bless you and thanks for visiting my site.

Love always,
Joel & Teresa Owens