Eric Douglas Olson

EAST WENATCHEE, Wash. - Eric Douglas Olson, 47, who moved to Bow Hill, Washington, in 1990 at the age of 14, and who later lived in Mount Vernon, Glenhaven and Burlington, Wash., passed away unexpectedly at his East Wenatchee, Wash., home on the morning of Monday, January 29, 2024. He was being treated for a rare form of T-cell leukemia.

Eric attended Burlington-Edison High School, graduating in 1994. He went on to make his career in construction.

Eric was born in Kirkland, Wash., on August 3, 1976, to Robert William and Shelly Ann (Douglas) Olson. He grew up first in Woodinville, Wash., before moving to Skagit County. After graduating from BEHS, Eric went on to study construction management at Bellingham Technical College.

A devoted husband and father, Eric married his sweetheart Elisabeth (n?e Pointer) on July 11, 1998, at Emmanuel Baptist Church in Mount Vernon, Wash. The couple welcomed their two wonderful daughters, Linsday Sara Olson and Jenny Anne Olson, into the world on Oct. 14, 1999, and on Oct. 15, 2001, respectively.

In 2007, the family relocated to East Wenatchee and quickly settled into their home there, where their dogs enjoyed lots of room to run in the backyard and where friends and family regularly gathered for barbecues and celebrations of all kinds.

Eric worked with his father Robert at Olson's Construction, Inc., from a young age, where he learned the building trade from the ground up. In addition to becoming a lead project manager, he was also a highly-skilled finish carpenter and deck-builder. His work can be seen on many projects throughout Whatcom and Skagit counties, and also throughout North-Central Washington, where Olson's Construction moved its operations to in the mid-2000s. In 2023, Eric founded his own business, Olsons Building Company, LLC, and recently designed and built a beautiful home in Malaga, Wash.

Eric's hobbies included hunting, all types of fishing, including especially for bass, hiking, boating, camping and cooking. A baseball player in high school, Eric was also passionate about all types of music from a young age, and went on to gain a particular appreciation for outlaw country and related genres. Eric had many adventures including foraging for mushrooms with his daughter Jenny, and with his brother Curtis Olson and Curtis' girlfriend Emily Johnson. In 1994, Eric achieved a life goal of having buck entered into the Pope & Young record book, with a blacktail deer he archery-hunted on Bow Hill.

In 2020, Eric, alongside his wife Elisabeth, was a tremendous source of strength and support in seeing his daughter Lindsay through her own battle with leukemia. She has reached full remission and has gone on to study art at the University of Washington - Seattle.

Eric is survived by his parents, Robert William and Shelly Ann (Douglas) Olson of East Wenatchee, his wife Elisabeth (Pointer) Olson of East Wenatchee, his father and mother in law Gene and Lida (Gallo) Pointer of Bay View, Wash., his two daughters Lindsay Sara Olson of Lynwood, Wash., and Jenny Anne Olson of Beaverton, Oregon, his brother Curtis Lee Olson and Curtis' girlfriend Emily Johnson of Burlington, Wash., his brother Jacob William Olson of Seattle, Wash., his grandmother Beverley Anne (Stoebuck) Olson of Sultan, Wash., and by many aunts, uncles and cousins and friends. He is preceded by his paternal grandfather Richard Lee Olson, of Sultan, Wash., and his maternal grandparents Jack Douglas and Noriene Ruth (Elliott) Douglas Pellinen of Mullan, Idaho.

A steadfast presence with a gentle demeanor, Eric was always quick with a smile and had a laugh that could lighten any room. He will be deeply missed by his family, friends, and all who knew him.

A celebration of Eric's life will be held at 2 p.m., on Saturday, Feb. 24, in the Chapel at Grace City Church, 277 Melody Ln., in Wenatchee, Wash., with Pastor Adam Ross officiating.

Memorial donations can be made to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.