Dawn (Swift) Phillips

Dawn Phillips, 68, of Conneaut, moved to Heaven Tuesday, November 4, 2025 at David Simpson Hospice House in Cleveland, OH. She was born June 11, 1957 in Conneaut, the daughter of John and Sharon (Huffman) Swift. 

Dawn graduated Conneaut High School in 1975 and received a George J. Record School Foundation Scholarship. She graduated Evangel University, Springfield, Missouri in 1980 with a bachelor’s degree in business, and Kent State University Ashtabula where she earned her Associate Degree in Nursing in 1988.  Dawn became an RN 1988 and worked her first year at University Hospital Downtown. She began working with Ashtabula County Medical Center, now ARMC, in the ICU from 1989 until her retirement in 2022. She also served as an ICU nurse part time at Brown Memorial Hospital from 1992-2004. Taking care of people was her passion, earning her the Maria and Sam Miller Nursing Excellence Award presented by The Cleveland Clinic. 

Dawn was a member of the Conneaut First Assembly of God Church and had been attending The City Church in Ashtabula recently. She enjoyed traveling, from Canada to Panama, recently cruising to   Alaska for nine days.  Dawn traveled to all U.S. states except North Dakota and Hawaii and cruised the Mediterranean from Spain to Turkey.  She also took a coach tour of the British Isles.  She enjoyed taking her children on trips to historical sites including Ft. McHenry in Baltimore, Washington, D.C., Boston, MA, Cape Canaveral, Elvis’s Graceland, Gettysburg, and many more.  The family even spent the night on a warship at the Buffalo Naval Museum.  

Survivors include her husband Gary Phillips, whom she married August 16, 1980; daughters Lindsey (Hunter Dobos) Phillips and Courtney (Jacob) Snyder, both of Warren, OH, Brooke Phillips, Morgan (Adam) Bissett, and son Alexander (Cheryl) Phillips all of Conneaut.  Grandchildren Bou Pelton, Christopher and Aurora Phillips, Lillian and Lincoln Snyder; sisters Robyn (Paul) Buki of Erie, PA, and Renee (Ron) Gruening of Port St. Lucy, FL; and brothers Mark (Sheila) Swift of Colorado Springs, CO, Gregory Swift and Rodney Swift, both of Ashtabula; her beloved dog Nicky; and grand-pups Lily, Piper, and Dahlia. 

She was preceded in death by her parents; son Christopher Phillips in 1989; and wonder dog Apollo. 

Friends may call from 2:00-4:00 PM, and 7:00-9:00 PM, Sunday, November 9, 2025 at the Marcy Funeral Home and Cremation Center, 208 Liberty St., Conneaut. 

Funeral service will be private for family and invited guests. 

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Dawn’s memory to The City Church of Ashtabula or Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital, Cleveland. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home. 

Light a candle or leave a memory at www.marcyfuneralhome.com.  

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Dawn (Swift) Phillips, please visit our floral store.