Sarah Patricia Hoyler Phillips

Sarah Patricia Hoyler Phillips passed from her earthly life on September 15, 2026, at the age of 29.

Sarah was a woman of action. She was rarely content to simply sit by when there was something she could do, create, fix, or someone she could help. She gave herself wholeheartedly to the people she loved. Whether she was building something with her hands, coming up with a solution to a problem, or finding a way to make someone feel better, Sarah had a remarkable ability to make things better.

She was an extraordinarily talented artist. There seemed to be no medium she could not master, and no idea she could not bring to life. She could draw absolutely anything in any style, mold clay, needle felt, paint, build, repair furniture, design characters, and create beautiful things from seemingly nothing. Her creativity knew no boundaries. She had an artist’s eye and a maker’s hands.

Sarah’s greatest gift was not her artistic talent. It was the way she made people feel.She was incredibly witty, and always seemed to know exactly what to say. She could make you laugh when you desperately needed it, and she had a beautiful way of making the people she loved feel seen and cherished. Sarah never seemed to run out of compliments or reassurance. If someone she loved was hurting or doubting themselves, she would find a way to remind them of their worth. She made sure we knew how wonderful she thought we were.

She had the voice of an angel and could turn anything she was doing into a song. She would bless you with a little tune she made up on the spot or sing the most beautiful songs she knew. Whenever she was around, the house was always filled with music, laughter, and the beautiful sound of her voice.

We knew Sarah was special from the time she was very small. One Christmas, when she was just old enough to walk, her brother Kalan received a frightening dinosaur puppet. It had sharp teeth, a terrifying face, and a growl to match. Her dad put the puppet on and made it roar loudly at all three of the children to show them how it worked. Katie and Kalan ran away in complete panic. But Sarah wasn’t afraid. Instead, she ran straight toward the dinosaur, looked it in the face, and bravely roared right back.

Sarah carried that courage throughout her life. While serving in the United States Air Force, she was appointed acting NCO while still a Senior Airman, an uncommon responsibility that reflected the trust others placed in her leadership. She was also the honor graduate of her flight. Sarah never did anything halfway. She consistently went above and beyond, giving her very best to whatever was placed before her.

She was also an adventurer. Sarah loved to travel and to experience the world. She made memories in Italy, Spain, Ireland, Scotland, and England, among other places. One of the most treasured memories she created was a surprise trip to Paris for her mother and sister when they visited her while she was stationed in England. Sarah had planned the trip herself, turning a visit into an unforgettable adventure. Paris became a place that belonged to them, forever tied to one of the phrases they loved from the movie Anastasia: “Together in Paris.” They even carried that memory with them in matching necklaces.

Sarah had a gift for turning ordinary moments into something magical. As a child, she would dig up little Christmas trees from the yard and bring them inside, roots and all, decorating them in her bedroom with handmade ornaments. She saw possibility where other people might not. She was always creating, always imagining, always finding another way to express the beautiful and wonderfully unique person God made her to be.

And Sarah was strong in ways that went far beyond words. When her husband suffered a heart attack in public, Sarah performed CPR and helped save his life. She was the kind of person you wanted beside you when life got tough.

And yet, for all of her strength, Sarah also possessed a delicate beauty that was entirely her own. She had the most beautiful hair, a thick, honey brown, and so full that a simple ponytail holder could barely contain it without snapping. Her porcelain skin was soft and beautiful, and she had the daintiest little baby hands that somehow managed to create, repair, build, paint, and bring so many of her ideas to life.

There are no words to do her justice. She was brilliant. She was funny. She was creative. She was adventurous. She was courageous. She was deeply loving. She was the kind of woman who made an impression simply by being herself.

She was, in so many ways, everything you would hope a person could be.

And above all, she was deeply loved.

Sarah’s life was a gift from God, and although her time with us was far too short, the imprint she left on the people who knew and loved her will never fade. We will carry her laughter, her courage, her creativity, her kindness, and every beautiful memory of her with us for the rest of our lives.

Until we meet again, our darling, beautiful, baby seal.

We love you with all of our hearts forever and always.

“You and I will always be back then….”

She is survived by her husband Bruce, her parents Chris and Tammie Phillips, her sister and brother in law Katie and Colby Skiles, her niece Clara Skiles, her brother and sister in law, Kalan and Taci Phillips, her grandparents John and Patsy Hoyler, Stan and Donna Phillips, and Patti Phillips, her Aunts and Uncles Sheri and Jochen Arndt, and Vickie and Michael Brown, her cousin Hollie, and her beloved pup Oliver. She also leaves behind countless dear friends whose lives were touched by her laughter, kindness, loyalty, and unforgettable spirit.