Eric Phillips (Cataclysmic Gerosha)

Eric Phillips is a minor character in Blood Over Water. He is the father of Ashley Phillips.

Early life
Eric was born on November 18th of 1949, as one of several siblings that would include Dimonte and Reggie Phillips. However, he was the only one that sought to keep the family faith upon reaching adulthood. It bothered him to learn that Reggie was eventually seduced away into joining the Society of the Icy Finger, while Dimonte moved to the Cincinnati area and remained living a life of poverty. Little did he suspect that Dimonte's son, Daran, would one day be the leader of a gang called the Finneytown Ferrets. Nor did he suspect that Reggie would ever stoop so low as to allow his daughter, Janet, to join the Microwave Mouth Corps.

Starting a family
In the early 70s, Eric was living in the greater area around Flushing, MI. He took a job at a GM plant, and worked there for several years in a mostly uneventful life. It was later in this decade that he met his future wife, Trista, as she was a grocery store cashier. The two would marry on June 7th of 1983. Their daughter Ashley would be born to them later, on April 30th of 1985.

Ashley gets a job
When Ashley was able to land her job at Sleet Mountain, Eric was overjoyed. He felt that his daughter was finally able to gain a sense of direction in life. He suspected that she may have been keeping secrets, and that she may have had some trouble with boys. However, Eric was never able to find any proof of anything. He worried about her being so far from her family in Flushing, given she was now living in Big Rapids. If something should happen to her, it would take him an entire day to drive up there, just to help her! As he got older, he found that his life of working for General Motors hadn't done his body many favors. His most common prayer was that she'd always exercise good judgment, and try to stay out of trouble.

Suspecting all is not well
Eric calls Ashley one day, curious as to what's happening in her life at that moment, and at work. He hears Mark Stefflin's voice in the background, and wonders what's going on. Ashley denies being on any dates, claiming that it's just someone from work that wants to review some paperwork with her regarding the boss making a sketchy request. Eric eventually lets her go; but warns her to quit if things get too shady. She promises him that if work becomes too unethical, she intends to do exactly that, and hangs up. Neither of them have any idea what Clyde has in store for Ashley after that.

Meeting Wally Fobel
Wally Fobel genuinely intrigued Eric when he introduced himself. He didn't realize at the time that Wally would become a future son-in-law; but he was grateful for him retrieving Ashley after things at Sleet Mountain got completely out of control. Like Trista, Eric viewed Wally as a lifesaver, rescuing the prodigal daughter and bringing her home. Through Wally, the Phillips family was able to reunite and heal. Yet, they feared and dreaded at first what the future held: there could be no peace until Clyde had answered for his crimes! No one made sport of Eric's daughter like that without paying for it! No one!

Personality
Eric is a generous, hardworking soul who is dedicated to God, marriage, family, and job. He's always been one to make tough choices and sacrifices for others. However, he struggles a bit on putting his foot down regarding his daughter's behavior around men that interest her. As such, his suspicions that Ashley may be in some trouble turned out to be justified. Yet, he was slow to anger, and patient, even then.