Eric Benjamin Smith, age 53, a resident of Hoquiam, died on Nov. 22, 2023, at his home in Hoquiam. Eric was born on Aug. 28, 1970, in Tacoma, Washington to Bruce C. and Barbara L. (Benjamin) Burglin.

He was raised in Tacoma and graduated from Washington High School in 1988. In 1990, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and served 3 terms as a combat medic.

Upon returning to Washington, he started working as an officer at the Washington Corrections Center in Shelton and was there from 2005 to 2017. From 2017 to 2019, he served as a Business Rep and from 2019 to the present, was a correctional sergeant for Stafford Creek.

He and Cory M. Laughlin were married on Aug. 18, 2018, on the beach at Westport.

Very dear to his cause, he was a founding member of the Grays Harbor Roughnecks Motorcycle Club, a club made up of military personnel, firefighters, EMTs, police as well as other professionals. His passion was fishing and cooking. He learned hospitality from his mother, always believing the refrigerator should never be empty, sharing meals with friends and helping those in need.

In addition to his wife Cory, Eric is survived by two daughters, Kaylin Pais (Adam) of Roundup, Montana and Jessica Anderson (D.J.) of McCleary; three brothers: Alan Smith of Omak, Washington; Jerry Smith of Ocean Shores and Jeffery Smith of Panama City Beach, Florida; and two grandchildren, Talia Pais and Ava Grace Anderson. A brother, Danny Smith died previously.

A celebration of life will be at 2 p.m. Friday, Dec. 15, 2023, at the Coleman Mortuary Chapel in Hoquiam.

Arrangements are by the Coleman Mortuary.

Please take a few moments to record your thoughts for the family by signing the online register at www.colemanmortuary.net.