Westmont Magazine Remembering Eric

Eric McKellips ’91 passed away Aug. 26, 2000, at the age of 31 as a result of injuries suffered during an automobile accident. He attended Westmont from 1987-1991 and graduated summa cum laude before obtaining his accounting credential from U.C. Santa Barbara and passing the C.P.A. exam. He also became a licensed California real estate broker. At the time of his death, he was the controller for Tynan Group Inc., a national real estate company with headquarters in Santa Barbara.

Eric’s time at Westmont was profitable, not only in his academic accomplishments, but because it was where he began a deeper spiritual walk that was to be a constant in his life. He was actively involved with Santa Barbara Community Church. Despite his many worldly accomplishments, he remained humble and focused on his real goal in life, which was to model his life after Jesus Christ and to have a deeper walk with Him.

As his parents were going through his belongings, they came across his spiritual goals, and they reflect how intent he was to conform his life to Christ. “Maintain perspective, read the Bible every morning (New Testament four times this year), memorize Scripture (one verse per week for 10 minutes), have free prayer and worship once per week, attend church, lead home group and Bible study, and keep all thoughts captive to Christ.”

Eric was known for his honesty, responsibility, compassion, gentleness, enthusiasm for life and sense of humor. He was a deep thinker and seeker of truth. One of his friends commented about his death, “I don’t know anyone less deserving, but I also don’t know anyone more prepared.”

He is survived by his parents, Wayne and Lyn McKellips of Phoenix, Ariz., and his brother Briant and his family of Lakewood, Colo., and many friends. The family has requested that any gifts be directed to the ministry of Life Network, a housing and counseling program for single pregnant women and teen-agers, at Life Network, P.O. Box 3668, Santa Barbara, CA 93130.