Shirley Ann (Wilkie) Sager

Shirley Wilkie Sager died here on September 19, 2021, at age 89. She is survived by her daughters, Gayle Sager Keenan and husband J. Michael Keenan and Ann Sager; six grandchildren, Max (Sharon) Fawver, James Fawver, Kevin Fawver, and Meghann (Jay) Brown, Brett (Craig) Robertson, and Dan Keenan; and eight great-children, Alyssa, Hunter, Adrien, and Isaiah Fawver, Carter Brown, and Jack, Alexandria, and Luke Robertson. She was predeceased by her husband, Stanley C. Sager; son, Dr. Kurt M. Sager; grandson, Thomas Keenan; great-grandson, Jaden Fawver; her brother, Lt. Harold G. Wilkie, USAF; and her parents.

Shirley was born in Concordia, KS, on December 21,1931, to J. Harold and Mildred Wilkie. She attended schools in Concordia and then enrolled in the University of Kansas, attending for three years. She was a member of Delta Delta Delta sorority. At KU, she met her future husband, Stan. The two were married on September 14, 1952. The couple made their first home in San Diego, CA, the home port of Stan's US Navy ship. Shirley and Stan moved to Topeka in 1954, when he was retired from the Navy because of a physical disability, and they and their three children moved to Albuquerque from Topeka in 1959. She finished work for her degree at UNM.

Shirley was a devoted and loving wife, mother, and grandmother, and a good friend to many. She was a longtime member of St. John's United Methodist Church and United Methodist Women. She worked for many years as a volunteer for Meals on Wheels and at the Storehouse.

Shirley's family would like to thank the wonderful caregivers at Elite Senior Care, Whitney House. A Service will be held on Friday, October 8, 2021 10:00 a.m. at FRENCH-University. Internment will take place at Santa Fe National Cemetery. Shirley's grandchildren will serve as pallbearers. The family asks that any memorials be made to Roadrunner Food Bank, Meals on Wheels Albuquerque, or The Storehouse New Mexico, in lieu of flowers.