James Buford Rusk

James "Jim" Rusk, age 96, passed away on August 12, 2025, in his home surrounded by his loving family members. He was born to Ora and Roscoe Rusk on March 30, 1929, in Oaks, Oklahoma, where he attended school grades 1-12. Jim was an outstanding basketball player in Oaks and later at Northeastern State University (NSU) in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, and at the UR Naval Center in San Diego.

Jim met Eva (Eve) Horn, the love of his life, at NSU in 1949. In December of 1950 he volunteered for service in the United States Navy, which took him out to California. Eve and Jim were married in 1951 and lived up and down the California coast for four years. After Jim finished serving his country, they returned to Tahlequah with their two children to finish school, both earning Bachelors and Masters degrees in Education. Over the course of many summers, Jim and Eve established a second home in Tahlequah, where they were thrilled to spend time with friends and family. Jim loved the summers he spent fishing on the lakes and rivers in Oklahoma.

In 1955 Jim and Eve accepted jobs with the school district of Lordsburg, New Mexico. He coached successful basketball, football, and track reams, travelling as far as Arizona to the west, Texas to the east, Mexico to the south, and placing highly in the state playoffs in Albuquerque 300 miles to the north. In addition to coaching, he also drove the team bus on many of those trips.

After 11 years of teaching in New Mexico, the family moved to Banning, California, in 1966, where he continued teaching for 22 more years. He also taught Government classes at College of the Desert in Palm Desert for several years. During all these years, Jim was fortunate enough to develop a deep connection with his students, remaining in touch with many of them after they graduated. Jim will be remembered by thousands of his form students for his kind heart and his witty sense of humor.

Jim was very proud of his Cherokee ancestry, remaining in touch with current events in the Nation and following their traditions throughout his life. This background provided him with an additional path to connect with his Morongo students outside of academics, and he was pleased to live near the Morongo Reservation. He always greeted his grandchildren with a happy "Osiyo!"

In 1987 Jim and Eve closed escrow in the newly built Sun Lakes Country Club, the tenth new owners to do so, and a few months later they moved into Sun Lakes as the third occupants in the new gated community. Jim spent many years as an avid tennis player there.

Jim Rush was greatly loved. He is survived by Eve, his loving wife of 74 years, his sister Juanita Kosary of Owasso, Oklahoma, his daughter Gae Rusk of Sun Lakes, his son Craig Rush and wife Libby of Seattle, Washington, grandson Jud McRoberts and wife Angelina of Kauai, Hawaii, his granddaughters Lena Gaily of Caldwell, Idaho, Jamesy McRoberts of Kuna, Idaho, and Hannah "Ev" Rusk of Hayward, California, grandson Matt Rush of Chicago, Illinois, his 11 great grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.

Jim will be dearly missed by a multitude of loved ones.