NEED TO KNOW
- Nathan Phillips of Green Country in Oklahoma, died on Jan. 24 while on a sledding outing with his kids, family and friends said
- Phillips was a nurse educator at Saint Francis Hospital, his friend Chris Presley said
- Presley started a GoFundMe to cover Phillips’ funeral expenses
Family and friends remembered an Oklahoma man who died while sledding with his kids last weekend as a caring and inspiring figure.
Nathan Phillips of Tulsa died on Saturday, Jan. 24, according to ABC affiliate KTUL, NBC affiliate KJRH, radio station KRMG, and a GoFundMe established to pay for his funeral expenses.
“He passed on 1/24/26 due to a sudden cardiac arrest while sledding with his children,” Chris Presley, the GoFundMe organizer, wrote of Phillips. “We take comfort in knowing that we will see him again and the last thing he saw was the joy on his kids’ faces, and the first thing he saw was the face of Jesus.”
Sharon Phillips, Nathan’s sister and an anchor at KJRH, acknowledged her brother’s death in a social media post on Tuesday, Jan. 27.
“Our hearts are broken, but your messages, kindness, and support have meant more than I can put into words,” Sharon wrote in gratitude to her KJRH colleagues and viewers. “Thank you for surrounding our family with so much care during this difficult time.”
Presley described Phillips as an “incredible father” to his three kids, writing in the GoFundMe that he was “the kind of dad who showed up fully—with love, patience, laughter, and unwavering devotion.”
“Nathan was an excellent musician and worship leader,” Presley continued. “He had a gift in the kitchen, pouring his heart into every meal he cooked, bringing people together around the table. He found peace and purpose in the outdoors as an avid hunter, and he carried that same focus and respect for life into everything he did.”
Presley added that Philips was a nurse educator at Saint Francis Hospital “who shaped, taught, and inspired countless nurses.”
“His passion for caring for others didn’t stop with his family; it extended to every life he touched. Nathan’s legacy lives on through his children, his students, his patients, and all of us who were blessed to know him. He was deeply loved, and he will be deeply missed—always,” Presley said.
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The GoFundMe will cover funeral and memorial expenses as well as the needs of Phillips’ family, Presley said. As of Friday, Jan. 30, the fundraiser has generated nearly $30,000.
KJRH and KMRG reported that a celebration of Phillips’ life is scheduled for Feb. 7 at Believer’s Church in Tulsa.
Presley did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.
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