Phillip Ray Adams Rusk

In Loving Memory of Phillip Rusk

November 7, 1979 – August 27, 2026
46 years old

How do you say goodbye to someone who was never supposed to leave?

With broken hearts, we say goodbye to Phillip, a loving spouse, dad, son, brother, uncle, and friend. There are no words that can truly describe how much he will be missed.

He was truly one of a kind. Loud, funny, full of life, and always ready to make people laugh. He had a way of bringing energy and joy wherever he went. His big hugs, infectious laugh, and larger-than-life personality could light up a room. He never had to try to be the center of attention, he simply was. That is how we will always remember him: full of life, full of laughter, and impossible to forget.

More than anything, he loved his girls, Taylor and Riley. They were his world, and being their dad meant everything to him. The love he had for them was endless, and that love will live on through them forever.

Throughout his life, he worked hard at Independent Foods, Dairygold, the Port of Sunnyside, and Seneca Foods. Outside of work, he enjoyed fishing, disc golf, soaking up the sunshine, and spending time outdoors.

Phillip was preceded in death by his father, Don Adams. He is survived by his mother, Rhonda Rusk; his longtime fiancé, Sonya Paxton; his daughters, Taylor and Riley Rusk; and his siblings, Miranda Hernandez, Melissa Adams and Don Adams Jr. 

This loss has left an emptiness that can never be filled, but we will always be thankful for the time we had together. The laughter, hugs, conversations, and countless memories will forever hold a special place in our lives. Those moments are the pieces of him we will carry with us and cherish forever.

A Celebration of Life will be held at the Sunnyside Eagles on September 1, 2026, from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Family and friends are welcome to come together to share memories, laughter, and stories as we celebrate a life that touched so many. In lieu of traditional arrangements, we are hosting a potluck. If you’d like please bring a dish to share. 

We wish we could have had more time, one more laugh, one more hug, one more conversation. We love you, we always have, and we always will.

Rest easy, Phillip. You will be missed every single day, loved forever, and never forgotten.

Those wishing to sign Phillip’s online memorial book may do so at www.funeralhomesmith.com

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Phillip Ray Adams Rusk, please visit our floral store.