Shirley Ann Thomsen Fackrell was born on a stormy night in Glenns Ferry, Idaho. Born January 5, 1935, to Joseph Adelbert Thomsen and Virginia Rebecca Phelan Thomsen. She was the third of five children. Shirley spent her early life in Glenns Ferry, graduating from Glenns Ferry high school in 1953. After high school Shirley enrolled in the Saint Alphonsus School of Nursing in Boise, Idaho where she earned her Nursing degree in 1956. Following nursing school, Mom went to work at the tuberculosis hospital in Blackfoot where she met her husband, Lynn Fackrell. Dad said he asked her out because she had great legs. Mom accepted because he had a brand-new red car.
Shirley and Lynn were married December 20, 1956, and later sealed in the temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. They had four children: Debbi Kelly (Mike), Dawn Laree Fackrell Nooner (Ronald), Deanna Lynn Barfuss (David) and Sam Fackrell (Celeste Bithell). Shirley and Lynn also raised Shirley’s little brother Steven after the death of their parents.
Shirley worked full time while raising her children and enjoying her life with Lynn. Her nursing career culminated when she was chosen as Head Nurse for the newly established Outpatient Surgery Center at St. Alphonsus, where she worked until her retirement after 35 years at St. Als. Shirley loved to camp, fish, and go on motorcycle tours with Lynn. Reading and Traveling were mom’s true passions. She was a voracious reader and avid traveler. Shirley traveled far and wide, venturing to Argentina, England, Ireland, Mexico, Canada, Scotland, and Morocco. Later in life she took her first cruise throughout the Mediterranean and the Czech Republic.
Shirley saw the world on her own terms and through her own lens. Dementia finally took Shirley from us as she died peacefully in her sleep on June 10, 2024. She was preceded in death by Lynn, her husband of 54 years, both parents, her brother Jack Thomsen, her sister Gayla Jean Sanford, and her beloved grandson Ross Barfuss. She is survived by her children,Dale, Debora, David and Daniel, her brothers, The Honorable Steven Thomsen, and Ronald Thomsen, 15 Grandchildren, 24 Great-Grandchildren, extended family and friends to numerous to count. God Bless you Mom; you will be missed by all who knew you.
Funeral services will be held under the direction of Bowman Funeral Home on July 1, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. with a visitation held one hour prior to the service at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints at 2090 N. Eagle Rd. Eagle, ID 83616.