Shirley Burnett Wilcox

Shirley Burnett Wilcox completed her mortal journey on a sunny fall afternoon, September 12, 2023, at home surrounded by her family. As her time on earth waned, she expressed a sense of gratitude for the full, vibrant life she had lived.

Shirley was born December 10, 1946 to Milton Jay and Lila Edith England Burnett in Clinton, Utah,

the second of three children. She described her childhood living on a small farm as fun, happy, and safe, and as a time of play and learning. Her involvement with 4H prepared her for years of sewing her own clothes, including her wedding dress, as well as costumes, quilts, and pillows for her grandchildren. As a teenager, she traveled by bus one summer across the United States with a Sacatwa group, “sleeping out” in fields, and experiencing new places and cultural events, including the 1964 World’s Fair in New York City.

Shirley graduated from Clearfield High School in 1965, and then from Weber State College in 1969 with a degree in elementary education. She married her best friend and high school sweetheart Lynn Lawrence Wilcox on July 29, 1969 in the Logan, Utah temple. They began their married life in the Avenues of Salt Lake City, living in a little third-floor apartment on T Street while Lynn attended medical school at the University of Utah, and Shirley taught second, then sixth grade at the Douglas School and Wasatch Elementary.

Five daughters joined the family over the next decade, and Shirley relished raising her family of girls. She excelled at hosting fun gatherings where she made people feel welcome and appreciated in her home. She enjoyed finding adventurous new recipes for different types of cuisine. She had a deep appreciation of cinnamon rolls and Diet Dr. Pepper (with extra ice), loved mowing their huge lawn, and found joy in reading books of all genres.

Shirley and Lynn truly appreciated creating memories with their children and grandchildren in Yellowstone, Hawaii, and at their cherished cabin in Mink Creek. They hosted cousin sleepovers beside the Christmas tree during the holidays and taught the next generation how to press fresh apple cider in the fall. Shirley said that her favorite name was Grandma, and she fulfilled that role with great love.

Shirley lived valiantly with polycythemia rubra vera, then myelofibrosis, and ultimately auto-immune cirrhosis for more than 20 years. In the nearly six years since Lynn’s passing, and with her health issues, Shirley has come to know pervasive grief and pain. In this time, she leaned deeply into her faith in Jesus Christ as the true source of hope, relief, and strength. Her core convictions of the Savior carried her through hardships and brought her solace as she contemplated eternal life and eternal relationships.

Shirley is survived by her daughters Lisa Prudden (Joe), Amber Reed (Matt), Megan Goates (Jeff), Kate Nance (Greg), and Sarah Call (Tom). She leaves the legacy of her beloved grandchildren Henry, Annabelle, Savannah, Max, Jack, Beckett, Michael, Georgia, Charlie, Oliver, Raleigh, Auguste, Truman, Alice, and Beatrice. She was preceded in death by her husband Lynn, her parents Milton and Lila, her siblings Colleen and Reed, and her grandparents. She eagerly awaited a glorious reunion with her loved ones beyond the veil.

A viewing will be held Friday, September 22nd at 9:00 AM at 4395 S Albright Dr, Holladay, Utah, with funeral services directly following at 11:00 AM. Interment will be at Holladay Cemetery, 4900 S Memory Lane, Holladay, Utah.

Shirley’s family wishes to thank Drs. Prchal, Aslami, and Trowbridge for the many years of excellent and compassionate care they provided for her; we also deeply appreciate her hospice nurse, Laura, for being a ministering angel in Shirley’s final days.