Frederic Henry Yeomans IV

Frederic Henry Yeomans IV, affectionately known as Eric or Freddy to his cherished friends and family, passed away on October 12, 2023, in Denver, Colorado due to a tragic fentanyl overdose. He was 26 years old.

Eric's journey began on July 12, 1997, in Summit, New Jersey, as the beloved son of Serena Pena and David Kegley. From the very beginning, Eric's life was marked by love and warmth as he was adopted at birth by Lucille (Lucie) and Frederic III (Rick) Yeomans. Lucie and Rick welcomed his sister, Allison, into the world just 11 months later. The bond between Eric and Allison was unbreakable, and they grew up supporting each other through life's ups and downs.

Throughout his life, Eric exuded happiness when he was in the embrace of nature, exploring bugs, snakes, and all forms of wildlife. He had an uncanny ability to spot and identify the creatures that inhabited the land and sea, and he delighted in sharing fascinating facts about them with anyone who would listen. His love for nature was a source of solace and joy, providing him with moments of peace and wonder amidst life's challenges.

Eric faced his own set of challenges, including nonverbal learning disorder and attention deficit disorder (ADD), which made traditional schooling a struggle for him. Despite these obstacles, his unwavering sense of justice and fairness was clear -- he had a remarkable desire and ability to defend those who were wrongly accused.

In search of a more suitable educational environment, the Yeomans family moved from Anacortes, Washington to Scottsdale, Arizona, where Eric graduated from New Way Academy in 2016. It was during high school that Eric's battle with addiction began, which continued and worsened for the next eight years after graduation. He bravely attended eight different rehabilitation programs during this time, a testament to his determination. Along the way, Eric's family never lost hope and continued to support him every step of the way. His journey was marked by resilience and a deep desire for recovery.

Eric is survived by his birth family: parents, Serena and David; sister, Natasha; half-brother Devin; aunt Kimberly; grandmother Lourdes; and his adoptive family: parents, Rick and Lucie Yeomans, his beloved sister, Allison and aunts and uncles Francey, Jeannie, Mark, Judy, Mary, Elaine, Susan and Scott. He was welcomed to heaven by grandparents Frederic Yeomans Jr (Papa), Dot Yeomans, Frank and Anne Hood and by Rev. Msgr. Patrick Brown, the long-term parish priest to the Yeomans and Kegley’s who guided Eric to his new adoptive family.

A memorial service will be held in one of Eric's "happy places," where he felt closest to nature, and details will be decided later. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that donations be made in memoriam to New Way Academy in Phoenix, Arizona, or Harmony Foundation in Estes Park, Colorado - a special rehabilitation facility he dearly loved.

Eric's memory will forever live on in the hearts of those who knew and loved him. He will be remembered for his kind spirit, unwavering sense of justice, and his profound connection with the natural world. May he rest in peace, his struggles and pain finally at an end as he explores the great wilderness beyond….