Samuel Isaiah Russell, age 27, passed away on July 31, 2026, in Seattle, Washington, after a long and painful battle with addiction.

Born April 28, 1999 into the Joyner Family in Los Angeles California, Samuel was placed into the foster care system in Washington State and made available for adoption at just 18 months old. Eventually, Samuel found his way to Kevin and Taliah Russell at age 4, who finalized his adoption one year later in 2006.

Samuel was smart, loved learning, did well in school, was highly verbose, shy, and a sensitive soul. He enjoyed a wide range of interests, but had a deep love of nature, animals of all kinds, building intricate objects purely by imagination with his LEGOs, such as a model of a Navy battleship. Samuel enjoyed reading books about military history, battleships, and aircraft.

Samuel was homeschooled during his elementary school years, joined Cub Scouts Pack 222, and attended yearly youth fairs where he had a particular interest in rabbits, rodeo, and chess. Samuel attended First Baptist Church in Ferndale throughout his childhood and was a regular at Awana, Sunday School, and later in youth group.

Samuel attended Providence Christian School during seventh and eighth grade and went to summer camp at Camp Gilead throughout his middle and high school years. He attended Ferndale High School and was a good student who often made the Honor Roll and participated in Wrestling Club during his junior and senior year. Samuel became a member of the Civil Air Patrol in the Bellingham Composite Squadron for three years until he graduated from Ferndale High School in 2017.

Samuel worked for three summers at Enfield Berry Farm, and at McDonald’s during his senior year.

Samuel endured many difficult challenges in his short life. In addition to the loss and trauma of losing his birth family due to physical abuse and neglect, he struggled with OCD and anxiety. Samuel also suffered a vaccine injury at age 6, which required two long years of physical and speech therapy to relearn how to walk without falling over, how to run, and how to speak clearly, as well as the frustration of relearning his alphabet and other basics. Several years later, he underwent a bone graft replacement surgery in his foot to correct a mild deformity.

The greatest challenge for Samuel arose in his teenage years when he began experiencing paranoia, which would later be diagnosed as paranoid schizophrenia as an adult. Samuel‘s mental illnesses and past traumas gave rise to drug addiction, which grew stronger as the years passed, resulting in violent behavior and homelessness.

Tragically, Samuel lost his battle to drug addiction on July 31, 2026 at 27 years of age.

Samuel is preceded in death by his grandpa Mark Russell and lovingly remembered by his parents Kevin and Taliah Russell; his siblings, Catherine Martin & husband Andrew, Julie Campbell & husband Gavin, Sarah Russell, Mary Rodriguez & husband Jonathan, and Zachary Russell; grandparents Martha Russell, Laurie Russell, Glenda Bean & husband Terry; uncle Jeff Russell; and numerous nieces and nephews.

“The Lord is near the brokenhearted; He saves those crushed in spirit.” Psalm 34:18

May his soul finally be at peace.