Eric Yale Elder (aka Big E and Grandpop) age 71, passed away the morning of March 6, 2021 in Wichita, Kansas. Big E was born on January 3, 1950 in Wichita, Kansas as the first child of Thomas Calvin “Cal” Elder and Donna Flo Gifford Elder, and ultimately grew into the ringleader of the Elder clan of Eric, Mark, Becky and Tom. His youth was spent roaming the streets of Wichita and the creeks and hills of the family ranch in the Flint Hills, recreating historic battles on the plains, episodes of the Roy Rogers show, and hanging out with his Snoopy Climber Club membership. He was artistic, musical, and creative from a young age and these attributes defined him and spurred his ambitions throughout his life.

Eric used to listen to the radio and to records and learned how to play guitar by ear at a young age. He started his first band in high school, The Philosophers, and music remained a driving force throughout his life. Eric attended the University of Kansas in Lawrence and co-founded the band Tree Frog serving as the lead songwriter, guitarist, and vocalist with other band members Jim “Chuck” Fey, Gary Durrett, Scott Piper and Lynn Piller. Tree Frog achieved local success and toured around the United States while the band members were still in college. Tree Frog composed several hits including Annie Do You Love Me, Over the Falls, Bye Bye Lonely People, Girl in the Grass and many others. Tree Frog members and fans remained connected throughout the years and the band held reunions roughly every 2 years for the past 20 years or so, including the addition of new band members Baxter and Michael.

After Lawrence, Eric lived in the forests of Idaho with the ‘Kansas boys’ and tried their hands at homesteading and building a home out of logs harvested from the property they purchased. Many adventures and good times were had in Idaho. He eventually made his way to Nashville where he continued to pursue a career in music and started the band Timberline. Timberline was also a country rock band consisting of Dave Flamming, Jim “Chuck” Fey, Chet Couch, and Rob “Wolf” Jackson. Timberline had several hits including Tonto Died Today, Crystal Peak, Let the Country Rock and Baby Come out of the Rain.

In Nashville, Eric met and married Amy Susanne BeVille and had two children; Christopher Carson Elder (38) and Bekah Rose Elder (35). Timberline toured Norway shortly after Bekah was born and upon his return, Eric made a shift to focus on family and to pursue his calling to ministry. Eric and the family moved to Lexington, Kentucky where both he and Amy attended and graduated from Lexington Theological Seminary. After being ordained in the Christian Church Disciples of Christ, Eric worked as a pastor for Chaplain Christian Church and Walton Christian Church in Kentucky before taking, Tennessee. He was also an Associate Pastor position at Hyde Park Christian Church in Austin, Texas. Over the next few years Eric became more involved in youth ministry, supporting hundreds of kids, and really reshaping youth programs at Hyde Park, First Christian Church in San Marcos, and Shepherd of the Hills in Austin. Much of his free was spent at the ranch on the Blanco River, clearing cedars (junipers), make limestone pathways, and building new structures around the property.

He authored “Sometimes You Eat the Bear,” as an autobiography and self-reflection of sorts that highlighted a significant portion of his life journey, spirituality, adventures, trials and tribulations, and battles with his own mental health.

Eric and Amy divorced after leaving the Blanco River ranch, and Eric eventually made his way up to Bellingham, Washington where he lived with son Chris and his wife Annie. There he became Grandpop and best friends with his first granddaughter Aila and babysitter number one for his second granddaughter Clementine. During his time living in the loft in Bellingham, Eric reconnected with Kathy Randall from his high school in Wichita and after a long distance courtship the two decided to get married and Eric moved back to Colorado to be with her. Eric and Kathy had a great time together though medical issues began to complicate things. They loved going to see live music and movies together.

After moving back to Wichita, Eric’s medical issues became more than his body could manage and he passed on to join his Elders. Eric is preceded in death by his parents Thomas Calvin “Cal” Elder and Donna Flo Gifford Elder. Eric is survived by his wife Kathy Randall Elder; his son Chris Elder and wife Annie Elder and granddaughters Aila and Clementine; his daughter Bekah Elder and husband Josh Warren; his brother Tom Elder and wife Nancy Casado, brother Mark Elder, and sister Becky Elder and husband Michael Galvin.

Knowing Eric was life changing for all of us in so many different ways. We know that there will be many memorials in his honor and in many different ways: singing his songs, climbing mountains, looking for constellations, reading his book (Sometimes You Eat the Bear), and just listening to the wind blow.

Two donation funds are being set up in his honor.

Wilderness Conservation in Honor of Eric Elder -

Eric Yale Elder was happiest in the wild or on the stage. In honor of his passing, we hope to conserve a piece of land in one of the places he loved most (Either Kansas, Colorado, Washington, or Hawaii). His family hopes to take all funds generated and partner with a land trust in one of these areas to conserve a piece of land to being protected in perpetuity and to remain available for access by family, friends, and anyone who needs a wild place to go. Eric was a world traveler and grew up roaming the Flint Hills of Kansas, then the mountains and forests of Colorado and Idaho, the jungles and volcanoes of Hawaii, the wilds of Alaska, as well as visiting Norway, Israel, Costa Rica, Mexico, and other places. Please visit the link below to make a donation.

Eric Elder Musical Scholarship Fund

The Americana Music Academy in Lawrence, Kansas provides music education to youth and this scholarship fund will provide free guitar lessons to at-risk and underserved youth interested in learning guitar in the Lawrence area. There are two ways to contribute to this fund: First, you can transfer funds directly using Venmo at the account @Americana-MusicAcademy and you submit your payment in the notes section indicate your donation applies to the Eric Elder Scholarship Fund

Second, you can mail checks to the address below:

Americana Music Academy 1419 Massachusetts St Lawrence, KS 66044 Provide a note on the check or in a letter with the check stating use of the funds for Eric Elder Scholarship Fund.

A Memorial Service for Big E will be held remotely on March 28 at 4pm Central Time (3pm Mountain, 2pm Pacific, 5pm Eastern).

Please register in advance for this celebration of Eric's life: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0qcOCopjIiGtf5nbPmQTRel2h9WQ9Jih5b

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Contact Chris Elder (Eric's son) with any additional questions or input at osoelder@gmail.com.

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