NORTH BEND – In a perfect world, he may have died pursuing his other favorite pastime, maybe planting a tree during his golden years.

But snow decided to take Erik Lewis where he was also happy, on skis – but at the sad age of 28.

The young man died Jan. 12 while skiing in the Alpental Ski Area when a hillside of loose snow collapsed into an avalanche that covered and asphyxiated him.

Lewis, a North Bend man originally from Woodinville, was the general manager at The Nursery at Mount Si, where his reputation as a skier was preceded only by his legacy as an astoundingly helpful horticulture expert.

“Erik had a passion for people, plants and powder,” said Nels Melgaard, owner of The Nursery at Mount Si. “He loved skiing. He worked in this industry that’s not very well paying, but he knew the winter months were slow and he could ski a lot.”

Lewis was something of a legendary horticulturist in the Valley. Melgaard hired him without ever meeting him or seeing his resume.

“I didn’t even have a phone number for him,” Melgaard said. “He just showed up to work and took this place to the next level.”

Lewis worked at The Nursery at Mount Si for two years after being scouted and recruited by one of Nels’ employees from another nursery for his skill set. He had a degree in horticulture from the University of Washington.

“He was in charge of a lot,” Melgaard said. “Erik was just an incredible worker, passionate and smart, a courteous, no-nonsense kind of guy. Very excellent with customers.”

Melgaard has since received many e-mails, as well as donations, from customers who adored Lewis.

“The e-mails I’m getting back are on such a personal level. [Lewis] barely knew how he affected them,” Melgaard said. “I open them up and I cry again because I don’t even know these people.”

One customer wrote to tell Nels that, “even though my wife and I are only customers at the nursery, we consider Erik to be a good friend. He was also brilliant with people.”

Another customer wrote, “Erik was an example of what is right with young people.”

And the accolades just keep pouring in, Melgaard said.

“I’ve got people stopping in today handing me wads of money to plant a memorial, another customer is in the process of building a garden and had a plaque made to dedicate the new project to him [Lewis],” Melgaard said.

Melgaard said the last time he saw Lewis was Monday, Jan. 10. Lewis was going to take the next two days off and was due back to work on Thursday. Lewis was skiing with a friend at the time of the accident. His friend was partially buried by the avalanche as well, but managed to dig himself out and then dug Lewis out the best he could. Nearby skiers went for help and Lewis was airlifted two hours later to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, where he died.

The King County Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed that Lewis died when asphyxiated by the snow. Lewis was single and had no children. His family lives in Woodinville.

Melgaard said Lewis also leaves behind a group of Mount Si High School student employees at the nursery who looked up to him.

“A group he really impacted hard was a group of football players that worked here,” Melgaard said. “He was a great mentor and big brother, a real leader. These kids are just crushed, like they just lost a family member. The impact is so profound.”

A public memorial service will be held in Lewis’ honor at 4 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 22, at the Salish Lodge & Spa, 6501 S.E. Railroad Ave. S.E.

Melissa Kruse can be reached at (425) 888-2311 or by e-mail at melissa.kruse@valleyrecord.com.