Introduction
The world recently said goodbye to a true icon, Phil Robertson, the beloved patriarch of the Duck Dynasty family, who passed away on May 25th at the age of 79. Known for his wit, wisdom, and unwavering faith, Phil captured hearts during his time on A&E’s hit show Duck Dynasty from 2012 to 2017. He was also the visionary behind Duck Commander.
For months, Phil had been courageously battling Alzheimer’s and other health challenges, a struggle openly shared by his sons, Willie and Jase, both in public statements and on their popular “Unashamed” podcast. The family revealed he had also sustained a fractured back and was coping with a blood disorder. Following the official announcement of his passing, a wave of heartfelt tributes from family members began to surface.
Just over a week after his death, Phil’s son Willie has shared a profoundly moving homage to his father, and we’ve also received an update on how Phil’s devoted wife, Miss Kay, is coping.
In a touching social media post accompanied by a collection of never-before-seen family photos – from his childhood to Duck Dynasty days, and moments with his own son, John Luke – Willie offered a deeply personal reflection on his relationship with his dad. He recounted a humorous memory from his 8th-grade year, where he performed a breakdance routine for his father. Phil’s understated reaction, “Well, I’ve never seen anything quite like that,” was, as Willie interpreted it, a compliment.
Willie then shared an incredibly poignant detail from Phil’s final days:
“Right at the very end of his life, I came into his room and the floor was freshly mopped. I did another dance,” Willie wrote, adding that in a much weaker voice, Phil simply said, “Well, you got moves I didn’t know you had.”
He mused on why he always found himself dancing for Phil: “Not sure why I was always dancing in front of Phil. Maybe I figured it was the last thing I think he would do, so I just did it.”
Beyond the playful moments, Willie emphasized the profound lessons he learned from his father, often without a single word being spoken. “He taught me many things in life and most without ever saying a word. I watched him and I knew he had figured out so many things. Most importantly, he taught me the value of sharing my faith with others. He was the real deal. The same on Sundays as Fridays. Most of our conversations were not about hunting or business, but about sharing the gospel.”
This unwavering commitment to his faith was a consistent theme in all the family’s remembrances. Phil was a man deeply convicted to share the message of Jesus with everyone he encountered.
Willie concluded his tribute with a powerful memory: “The last words he said to me as I leaned down over his weakened body was, ‘You’re my brother.’ It made total sense to me. He always told me we were co-workers in the kingdom of God. Maybe that’s why I always just called him Phil.”
The sentiment of living for a higher purpose was echoed by his granddaughter, Sadie Robertson Huff, in a recent interview. She shared a final, incredibly moving conversation with her grandfather:
“Not going to lie, and we’re we’re still at a really hard place, you know. Uh it’s one of those things that he has that it doesn’t get better, you know. Um but I saw him. Well, I saw him today, but I saw him last week. And last week, as soon as I saw him, he doesn’t really talk very well now. Um, but as soon as he saw me, he looked at me and he said, ‘Full strength ahead.’ And, uh, it was just very sweet cuz, you know, he wasn’t talking about strength coming here. It’s full strength ahead knowing where he’s going. And so, there’s a confidence in where he’s going, but it’s definitely hard in the moment.”
In the wake of their loss, the close-knit Robertson family is rallying around Miss Kay. Just days after Phil’s passing, his children and grandchildren returned to their podcasts, “The Unashamed Podcast” and “Duck Call Room,” for a special 90-minute episode dedicated to sharing stories and memories of Phil. While heavy, the episode was also a celebration of his life.
About 40 minutes into the recording, fans received an update on Miss Kay’s well-being. Jay Stone, who is married to Alan Robertson’s daughter, Anna, shared that Miss Kay is currently staying with him and his wife, appearing to be a more permanent arrangement. “She’s doing good,” Stone confirmed. “She’s surrounded by her family. There’s people in and out constantly, so she’s doing well and she’s eating well.”
Miss Kay, who maintains her own Instagram page (though less frequently updated), collaborated on several posts, but her last original share from March 2024 now feels incredibly poignant. She wrote: “Phil takes care of me and I take care of him. Sometimes he fixes the little makeup smudge for me and I comb the chicken biscuit crumbs out of his beard. I’m getting over being sick and I can’t wait to get back taking care of my pioneer man. I love Phil and I really want y’all to know that the hard years were worth it to get where we are today.”
Phil Robertson’s legacy, both on and off screen, will undoubtedly continue to inspire. Our thoughts and prayers remain with the entire Robertson family during this difficult time.