A tribute site of where Eddie Ramirez was shot and killed in October. (Jennifer Scott/Tyler Morning Telegraph)

Under the soft glow of candlelight and the heavy shadow of grief, a community gathered Saturday evening at Junior’s Taqueria to honor Eddie Ramirez, who was tragically shot and killed three months ago.

Eddie, a beloved husband, father, brother, son, nephew, uncle and friend, was killed during an escalating confrontation with Scottie Lee Goble, 54, a regular customer, on Oct. 11. Goble has since been charged with murder in connection with the fatal shooting. Investigators uncovered inconsistencies in his account of the events leading up to Eddie’s death, with discrepancies in both the altercation’s details and the actions that ultimately resulted in the fatal shooting. Goble was released from jail on a $1 million bond.

Saturday evening’s vigil was held in a tent set up directly over the spot where the incident occurred, in the parking lot of Junior’s, a family-owned restaurant that Eddie co-owned with his brother, Edgar.

Eddie’s wife, Amanda, stood as a pillar of strength, her voice steady but heavy with grief as she shared stories of the remarkable husband and father he had been to their two daughters. She spoke of the quiet moments, the unwavering love, and the deep dedication he gave to their family — devotion that shaped their lives and left an unfillable void.

“He was there for every event. He drove us to school every single morning,” Amanda said. “He would dance with the kids in the kitchen before school, help me sign folders, pack (lunches). He rode with us every morning… he brought me coffee in bed every day. He was just perfect.”

Amanda and Eddie were married for 11 years, and together for 20, building a life full of love, laughter, and unforgettable memories.

“He always liked to dance with me no matter where we were in the kitchen, in the bedroom, outside in the front,” she said. “At an event, any chance he got, he always grabbed my hand and wanted to dance with me.”

As the first holidays without Eddie arrived, the absence was undeniable. The familiar routines felt different, and the joy of the season was muted by the ache of loss.

“People ask me, ‘How did you get through Thanksgiving, Christmas, or New Year’s without him?’” Amanda said. “And honestly, I don’t know how we did it. It’s just been step by step.”

“The holidays… they will never be the same,” said Mayra Reyes, Eddie’s aunt. “They’ve been extremely hard. New Year’s, I couldn’t get myself to go and spend it with them because it was just too much.”

Reyes was only three years older than Eddie, and they shared a close bond throughout their lives. Growing up together, they were more like siblings than aunt and nephew.

“We’re all pretty close growing up,” she said. “I was the only one in middle school in eighth grade with him in sixth grade screaming out ‘Auntie! Auntie!’ in the hallway.

Reyes, who has three boys of her own, recalls how much Eddie cared about his family, especially her sons.

“He was always looking out for them,” she said. “Even when they were getting into trouble or he saw that they were about to get into trouble… he had come and let us know whatever was going on with the boys and he was always like ‘Either you tell him or I tell them.’ I know it was hard for him to be caught in the middle but… he was a good man. He very much loved his family.”

The outpouring of love and support from the community has been a lifeline for the Ramirez family, offering them strength and solace as they navigate their grief.

“Eddie knew so many people… he was a talker,” Amanda said. “He always greeted you with a big, beautiful smile. I couldn’t take him to Walmart without running into five or six people he knew. Anywhere we went, he’d see someone he knew. He had that big smile and loved to talk. He just touched so many lives.”

According to Amanda, hundreds attended Eddie’s service, offering prayers for the family.

“All those prayers is what has given us the strength to get through this,” she said. “We appreciate everybody’s prayers and everyone that’s brought us flowers and everyone that has written us letters. They have all been read and they have all been seen and they have been appreciated.”

Eddie’s smile and warm presence were the heart of the family-owned restaurant, creating an inviting atmosphere that made everyone feel like part of the family. Amanda believes keeping the restaurant open is exactly what Eddie would have wanted. So, she helps out wherever she can, determined to carry on his legacy and honor his passion for the taqueria and the family business.

“He loved the taqueria. He loved working with his family. He got up every day and came to work alongside his mother and brothers, side by side, every single day. And he loved what he did,” Amanda said. “When I’m up here, it feels like him, it smells like him, and when I eat the tacos, it tastes like him. I feel a lot of comfort being here.”

According to Amanda, many have asked why she would return to work at the restaurant after what happened. But for her, the answer is simple: “I’m really close with his family and they have been there for me every step of the way and I just love them so much,” she said. “I would do anything to help them and keep this going because I know that’s what Eddie would want.”

While it’s often said that time heals all wounds, in the face of unexpected tragedy, that truth doesn’t quite hold for the friends and family of Eddie Ramirez.

“We miss him so much, but I do feel his presence around me,” Amanda shared. “He’s come to see me in dreams, sent me signs to let me know he’s near. He can turn the lights on, turn the radio on when I’m driving, and even sent me a rainbow on some of my darkest days. I see him all the time and I know he’s with me.”