19/02/2026
DEATH OF MY SISTER, SHIRLEY JEAN WILSON ANDERSON, EdD, RN
It was a sad shock to receive a text message on Sabbath morning, January 17, 2026, from my nephew, Jonathan E Anderson, MD, indicating that his mother, my younger sister, Shirley Wilson Anderson, had died. She was my only sibling. Shirley had been battling Parkinson’s Disease for almost 15 years, but seemed to be doing better recently. She died in Coos Bay, Oregon, just a few days before her 73rd birthday. She had moved to Coos Bay, where Jonathan and his family live, so they could be closer during her challenging time with Parkinson’s Disease. Shirley was born at noon on Sabbath, January 24, 1953, at a hospital on an island in the middle of the Nile River in Cairo, Egypt. Our mother, Elinor Neumann Wilson, was giving birth while our father, Pastor Neal C Wilson, was preaching at the Heliopolis Seventh-day Adventist Church, since our family was serving as missionaries in Egypt.
Shirley grew up in Egypt, California, and Maryland. She made many life-long friends at John Nevins Andrews Elementary School and Takoma Academy as well as Southern Adventist University. Shirley enjoyed being with family members and was happy for occasions to connect with her parents, grandparents, many uncles and aunts, and cousins and nieces who made up the Wilson/Neumann/Dunbar/Miklos/Woodward/Murrill clan. She loved her family. Most of Shirley’s aunts were nurses and due to that strong influence, she became a nurse. A Master’s in Pediatric Nursing and a Doctorate in Health Promotion were accomplishments along with the way to a career as a college professor in Georgia, Iowa, Maryland, and Washington. She was the chair of the Washington Adventist University Nursing Department for many years and a professor of Health Science at Walla Walla University for over 20 years. She also greatly assisted in the foundational framework for the now accredited Weimar University Nursing School.
Shirley was a bright, warm, cheerful, playful, and unrelentingly lighthearted person. She was well educated and had a rewarding career. She loved Jesus and was a life-long member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. She was a devoted mother, a loving sister, a caring daughter, and loyal friend. She sought out and focused on happiness, humor and fun, even throughout her long battle with Parkinson’s disease.
Shirley was born on Sabbath and ironically died on Sabbath. One day, soon, when Jesus returns, we will see Shirley again and her sweet smile as we spend eternity together, all by God’s grace. Let us look to the Lord every day for our salvation accepting His justifying and sanctifying righteousness and grace. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
The memorial service for Shirley will take place on Sunday, March 8, 2026, at 10:00 am at the Walla Walla University Church sanctuary. For those who can attend, you are welcome. For those who would like to view the live-streaming of the service, you can go to:
//chrisdrake.stream/shirley/wilson/anderson
