HARTFORD, Ky. — Shala S. Wilson, 82, of Hartford, passed away peacefully in her sleep on May 18, 2025, at Norton Hospital in Louisville, Kentucky, following a brief illness. She was born on Oct. 4, 1942, in Madisonville, Kentucky, to the late Hayden Jennings and Dolores Burden.
Shala was one of the first nurse practitioners in Bowling Green, Kentucky. She was known for her compassionate care and worked in several healthcare facilities throughout Western Kentucky where she touched many lives. In addition to her clinical expertise, Shala was a successful healthcare administrator and educator.
During her retirement, she and Larry traveled 49 states and several countries in their Airstream, always making new friends, and many times serving as the caravan leaders. She loved meeting new people and was always up for an adventure. She went white water rafting in Colorado and zip lined in Newfoundland at the age of 78. She shared her time and her love for traveling by taking her daughters to Europe and her grandchildren on numerous camping trips. She and Larry took the entire family to Cancun to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary in 2010. She loved music, learning to play the guitar and singing with friends. She loved to read and sew. Most of all she loved her family. She loved making blankets and quilts for her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
The greatest blessing for her family is knowing she had a life well lived, with a heart for her family, everything motivated by her great faith in God and knowing how much her family loved her.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by siblings, Danny Jennings, Lana Jennings, Patrick Jennings and Kay Drozak.
Shala, a proud Navy wife, is survived by her loving family including her husband of 64 years, Larry Wilson, of Hartford; daughters, Lisa (Joe) Motley, of Louisville, Kentucky, Linda (Ron) Tyree, of Morgantown, Kentucky, and Lori (Corey) Render, of Hartford; grandchildren, Josh Tyree (Chelsey), of Williamsburg, Kentucky, Jordan (Taylor) Tyree, of Bowling Green, Kayla (Tait) Thomas, of Bowling Green, Mitch (Abby) Motley, Savannah Motley, McKenna Motley, of Louisville, Emma Render and Audrey Render, of Hartford; great-grandchildren, Jace and Graham Tyree, and Wilson, Caroline and Landon Tyree, and Myles Thomas; four siblings Mike (Kathern) Jennings, Bob (Angelline) Jennings, John (Jayne) Jennings and Carole Southerland; and several nieces and nephews.
To honor her request, no memorial service will be held at this time.
Expressions of sympathy and condolences can be mailed directly to Jones Funeral Chapel P.O. Box 414 Morgantown, KY 42261, who will forward to her family, or made to foundations near to Shala’s heart – The Myositis Association, the Foundation for Sarcoidosis Research, and the American Diabetes Association.
