Sharilyn Marie Dunbar

Sharilyn (Sissy) was born in Kansas City, Kansas on March 9, 1964. She was the youngest of 7 children born to Opal Marie and Robert Arlow Hansen, and was baptized into the Christian faith on March 22, 1964. Sharilyn’s life journey included a family move to Vinton, Iowa when she was 9 months old. While living in Vinton, Sis was diagnosed as a Type 1 diabetic at the age of 4 ½. While it was a lifestyle change at a very young age, with the help, commitment and guidance of her parents, Sharilyn learned quickly how to manage her diabetes and did so with great attention and care throughout her life. In 1969, the family moved to Austin, Texas where Sharilyn attended Rosedale Elementary School, Baker 6th Grade Center, Lamar Junior High and graduated from McCallum High School in 1982. Sharilyn was a proud member of the McCallum Knight Marching Band as a Flag Bearer.

After high school, Sharilyn attended Southwest Texas State University until she was in a car accident in April 1983. After recovering, she went on to attend Mansfield Business School where she graduated as a Medical Technician. During her career she worked for many years at Capital Medical Clinic in various positions, and then went to work for Dr. Jack Moncrief where she served many years as his research study coordinator.

In June 2013, Sharilyn was diagnosed with non-smoker, non-small cell lung cancer. She faced this journey with faith, strength, and perseverance as she did with everything in her life, including another bad car accident in May, 2016. Through all of her many major challenges, she never lost her Joy and Passion for life. Her challenges couldn’t begin to compare to all of the things she dearly loved and enjoyed – Music, Dancing, Laughing, Photography (some of her favorite from her bucket-list trip to Colorado in 2015), NASCAR, her Mary Kay Sisters, her 4-legged babies (dogs & cats), University of Texas sports (most of her wardrobe is burnt orange), her Dear Friends, her Loving Family, her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and simply Life Itself!

Sharilyn was preceded in death by her closest friend and Brother Dwight, in 1973; in 2001, her Dear Mother Opal, who inspired the entire family through Jesus Christ throughout her 52 year marriage to her husband, Bob; and in 2015, her Dear Sister Valeri.

Sharilyn is survived by her father, Robert Hansen; sisters: Vicki Clark and husband, Ben, of Georgetown, Texas, and Shayne McWhorter and husband, James, of Rockdale, Texas; brothers: Rollin Hansen and wife, Jill, of Kyle, Texas, and Doug Hansen and wife, Lori, of Austin, Texas; nieces: Wendy Castellanos, Stephanie Kruger (Dustin), Whitney Myers (Josh), Ashley Harvey and Katelyn Harvey; nephews: James Turpin (Valerie), Ryan Murphy (Carlie), Jeremy Hansen (Amber), Zachary Hansen (Julie), Brent Hansen (Meghan); great nephews & nieces: Beau, Braden, Teigan, Skyleigh, Brooklynn, Soren, Caylum, Kaila, Liam, Desmond, Hayleigh, Lilly and Carson; many aunts, uncles, cousins, former co-workers and friends!!

The family would like to thank Sharilyn’s doctors, nurses and caregivers at Texas Oncology, Cottonwood Creek Nursing & Rehabilitation Center, and Hospice Austin. Sharilyn lived every day of her life with love, faith, strength, compassion, and determination. While we will miss her and her feistiness and “fighting” spirit, we are comforted knowing she is whole again and Home with Jesus, Mom, Valeri, Dwight, and her closest cousin, Scott.

Until we meet again…..Fly to Jesus, Sissy!

Visitation with the family will be held from 4:00-8:00 pm on Friday, February 23, 2018 at Cook Walden Funeral Home, 6100 North Lamar Blvd, Austin, Texas.

Funeral service will be held at 2:00 pm on Saturday, February 24, 2018 at Faith Lutheran Church, 6600 Woodrow Avenue, Austin, Texas 78757. Interment to follow in Cook Walden Capital Parks Cemetery in Pflugerville.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Faith Lutheran Church, the American Diabetes Association, or the American Cancer Society.

To share condolences with the family, please visit www.cookwaldenfuneralhome.com.