Eric Sammons, 42, Luverne, died Thursday, Jan. 17, 2019, at the Sanford USD Medical Center in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
A funeral Mass was Monday, Jan. 21, at St. Catherine Catholic Church in Luverne. Burial followed at St. Catherine Cemetery in Luverne.
Eric Sammons was born on June 21, 1976, to Mike and Mary (Padilla) Sammons in Luverne, where he was raised. He attended school and graduated from Luverne High School in 1995. While in high school, Eric was involved in sports and worked at McDonald’s. He then moved to the Twin Cities and attended school at Brown Institute, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in graphic design in 1998. During this time, Eric worked at Xerox.
Following graduaton, Eric’s field of education took him to Hallendale, Florida. He eventually became a cook at Chili’s restaurant. In January 2004 Eric returned to Luverne and worked as a cook at the Howling Dog Saloon and then as a service technician at Papik Motors, along with playing baseball for the hometown Luverne Redbirds team.
He moved to Brownsville, Texas, to work for the Panasonic company in 2009. Due to his health concerns, Eric returned to Luverne in July 2011.
Eric was a member of St. Catherine Catholic Church in Luverne where he was baptized and confirmed. He loved attending his nieces’ and nephews’ activities; he was always their “Big Buddy.” Eric was very artistic and was big into gaming.
Eric is survived by his daughter, Ferynn Rose Sammons of Harlingen, Texas; his mother, Mary (Mike) McLaughlin of Luverne; his father, Mike (Ronda) Sammons of Round Lake; three siblings, Chad (Sara) Sammons of New Ulm, Angela (Robert) Sneller of Luverne, and Lindsay (Thomas) Jenniges of Ellsworth; step-siblings Ashley Harms, Ocheyedan, Iowa, Anthony Voss, Round Lake, Billy McLaughlin, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and Kristina McLaughlin, Pipestone; his paternal grandmother, Lilly Ann Sammons; nieces and nephews; and many other relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by his maternal grandparents, Ben and Betty Padilla; his paternal grandfather, Leslie Sammons; an uncle, David Sammons; and an aunt, Kristi Baker.
Memorials are preferred to establish an education fund for his daughter, Ferynn.
Arrangements were provided by Hartquist Funeral Home of Luverne, www.hartquistfuneral.com.
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This obituary is being reprinted to correct an error in the obituary as submitted.