Wilma Ellen McGinnis Anderson passed away on Feb. 3, 2022, at her home in Moab at the age of 90. She was born in Shawnee, Oklahoma, on Oct. 14, 1931, to Glen Calvin McGinnis and Gwendolyn Geree Dossey. She was the first and only daughter to be born to this family. Three years later her brother, Jimmy Glen McGinnis, was born.
On March 3, 1948, Wilma married Willis Ferguson in New Mexico and, in 1952, they moved to Moab. Willis and Wilma later divorced in 1973. Wilma worked for Charlie Steen as a cook in the mining camps, beginning her career as a wonderful cook in restaurants and at Allen Memorial Hospital (now Moab Regional Hospital). Wilma was extremely talented and gifted at creating. She began by doing all kinds of crafts, oil painting, sewing, and eventually ceramics. She owned her own shop, Wilma’s Ceramics. She worked for the National Park Service at Arches National Park and later for the Bureau Land Management, from which she retired in 1996.
Wilma is known for her ability to cook wonderful meals, bake bread and cakes and even making Christmas candy each year with her good friends. She knew how to make her home comfortable and welcoming. She made all of her girls their clothes for most of their growing-up years. She created and sewed over 100 beautiful quilts. She was always ready to have fun and made life-long friends. She was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Saints, where she held many different callings. Her favorite was working with the youth of the Church. She also had a great passion for politics and was active in the local and state Republican party.
Wilma was preceded in death by her parents and brother, her husband, Otto C. Anderson; and Robert William (Billy Bob) Shupe, her grandson, in 2009. She is survived by her children, Janice (Bob) Shupe from Moab, Dee (Kristie) Ferguson from Baker, Nevada, Glenna Oliver from Moab, Danita Ferguson from Enoch, and Monette (Paul) Partridge from Panguitch; her many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren; and three great-great-great-grandchildren.
A funeral service For Wilma Anderson was held on Feb. 7. You may send condolences to the family at www.spanishvalleymortuary.com
