MANY FAMILIES gather around the dinner table during holidays, but Paige and Eric Hose work hard to make sure others can do the same. Paige, an EMT, and her husband, Eric, a sergeant with the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, have dedicated their lives to public service. For 23 years, they’ve balanced the demands of high-stress careers with raising six children. But their journey to discovering this purpose did not start where you might expect.
Paige and Eric’s love story began on a blind date at Cahoots, a local and historical restaurant, where Eric took her to dinner and then to a horse show.
“I don’t even like horses,” Paige said, “but now we have been married for 23 years.”
Eric started out working as a carpenter, and Paige was a legal secretary, but they both felt a pull toward something more service-oriented. They made the bold decision to change careers.
Paige pursued a career in the emergency response field by becoming an EMT, and Eric had always dreamed of helping people through law enforcement. Even though they chose different paths, both career changes centered around the common goal of helping others.
For Paige, being an EMT means more than just responding to emergencies.
“The job is always interesting and always changing,” Paige said.
She deeply values her co-workers and her patients. Some of her most meaningful experiences came from weekly interactions with her dialysis patients.
“I felt like I was a friend to them,” Paige said.
Of course, in any high-pressure job, the work takes its toll.
“The job can be mentally exhausting, and you see a lot of things that stay in your mind,” Paige said. “There is more to the job than lights and sirens. You have to have compassion, patience, and understanding.”
Eric’s job in law enforcement requires similar qualities, and he has a passion for the work.
“I’ve always wanted to do this,” Eric said.
Eric serves as a sergeant with the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, and he views his role as an opportunity to serve as “a good role model and leader” for his shift. He has created an environment for other law enforcement officers to feel supported. One impactful moment came when he talked someone out of attempting self-harm. He reached them at a time when they felt like no one else cared. Experiences like this remind him why the work matters.
“You have to do the right thing and treat people with respect,” Eric said.
What keeps Eric going is witnessing transformation.
“Seeing people change their lives around after making mistakes is the most rewarding part of the job,” Eric said.
Over the years, however, the weight of responsibility has accumulated. Eric describes this as “overloading your plate and filling holes.”
“Twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, and 365 days a year, the community always has someone to count on. When the community is spending time with their families, we are working to save theirs.”
Even though Paige and Eric work in different departments, their jobs often overlap, and they have to work as a team to maintain the work/life balance.
“We deal with some of the same situations, so we are able to understand the demands of each other’s work,” Paige explained.
The couple has a rule that at least one of them, at all times, is available for their family. Their mutual respect for each other runs deep.
“Eric always goes out of his way to help people, and you can always count on him,” Paige said.
Eric, in turn, said that “Paige is a great mom who never gives up. She has a big heart.”
Together, they are raising seven children: four biological (Boone, 31; Baye, 22; Ila, 19; and Cash, 16) and three foster-to-adopt children (Gemma, 10; Harlen, 9; and Raelynn, 7). Their dedication to family and service hasn’t gone unnoticed by their children, especially their daughter, Ila Hose.
Ila decided to become an EMT like her mother, continuing her family’s selfless tradition.
“My parents have inspired me because they have always been go-getters and hard workers. I strive to be that way as well,” Ila said. “I chose to be an EMT to make people’s worst days become better.”
Ila’s parents taught her these admirable lessons, and she has let them guide her path.
“They have always told us to treat everyone with kindness and respect, and that if you want something, go after it — chase your dreams!”
These values have positively impacted the Hose children. Paige couldn’t be prouder of all her children, and she is deeply touched that her daughter, Ila, wanted to follow her career path.
“I am extremely proud of Ila, and I hope that she continues to be as passionate about helping others as I am,” Paige said.
Eric is equally proud, but still feels protective of his little girl.
“I am very proud of her, but also scared at the same time,” he said.
The Hose family understands what it means to show up. They represent the quiet heroism that happens every day in their community: the compassion, sacrifice, and commitment to being there when others need them most. GN
