Erik Randolph Wright-Hay

Erik Randolph Wright-Hay, father, partner in life to Kay, fisherman, truck driver, uncle to numerous nieces and nephews, brother, son, cousin, friend and purveyor of good times passed away in Salt Lake City, Utah, on Sunday June 9, 2013.

Erik was born on March 28, 1969 in San Jose, CA.  After living briefly in San Jose, Chino, Midwest City, OK and Santa Ana, CA, the family settled in Yorba Linda.  Erik became very active in soccer and was known as Bigfoot for scoring a ginormous number of goals during his career.  At Troy High School, Erik became known for his accomplishments in football, ultimately becoming an all CIF selection.  Upon graduation, Erik went on to the University of Texas, El Paso to play ball.

After bouncing around different professions for a few years, Erik became a truck driver.  Apparently this was his lifelong dream;  his family discovered an essay he wrote in the fifth grade where he described that he would first become an engineer, then a driver.  He never did pursue engineering but was quite adept at fixing and building things.  Most notable were the “Wright-Hay Stadium”, (a series of sofas propped up on cinder blocks in stadium fashion so his guests could watch the Super Bowl) and custom-built BBQs made from old 55 gallon drums.  He assured us he cleaned them out before putting them into action. 

To say that Erik was gregarious was a tremendous understatement.  There was not a person he met with whom he wouldn’t strike up a conversation.  Grocery shopping with Erik was a two hour affair even if the task at hand was a loaf of bread.  His warm and infectious personality enabled him to make friends wherever he went. 

Fishing and the outdoors were Erik’s true recreational passions.  He fished up and down the Sierras, throughout Oregon, outside Salt Lake, or any body of fresh water.  He owned enough fishing gear to put Cabela’s to shame and had no problem sharing it with family and friends.  An annual rite was to head to Twin Lakes near Bridgeport, CA for trout opener in April.  While the rest of his cohort was freezing, even decked out in cold weather gear, Erik would be wearing shorts, flip flops, and a t-shirt.  Well, sometimes the t-shirt was optional. 

Erik leaves behind two very handsome boys.  Ryker and Triston are spitting images of him, right down to their mannerisms and senses of humor.  And it looks like they will be as big as he was.  They are good boys and loved their father very much. 

For the last several years, Erik and Kay were an inseparable pair.  They spent their time fishing, exploring the mountains outside Salt Lake and planning for their wedding in October.  Erik messed up those plans but Kay forgives him.  She looks forward to the time when they will be together again.

Erik is survived by many who loved and adored him: Kay, his mother, brother and sister, nieces and nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends everywhere.  He was preceded in death by his father Stan, grandparents, aunts and uncles, and by good friends who also left us too soon.  He joins them now in the big fishin’ hole in the sky.  You can already hear everyone laughing at his shenanigans.