Funeral homes often submit obituaries as a service to the families they are assisting. However, we will be happy to accept obituaries from family members pending proper verification of the death.
Shirley Ann “Sam” Brownback passed away peacefully in her sleep on Nov. 4, 2026, in Hood River, Oregon. She was born to Ann Helen and Aurelius McDonald in Portland, Oregon, on Feb. 2, 1938. Sam attended and graduated from Cleveland High School in 1956 and the same year was a contestant in the Miss Portland Pageant. She married John Brownback in 1960, and had her only son, Bob, in the fall.
Due to her husband’s work with the U.S. Government, Sam traveled extensively, spending time living abroad in places such as Scotland and the Philippines. She eventually settled in Rancho Bernardo, California, where she opened her clothing store, Top Drawer Boutique. Later in life, she made her way back to the Northwest to live and golf in Vancouver, Washington, surrounded by family. Sam was an incredible golfer. Throughout her life abroad and during her retirement, she golfed as often as possible. She had eight lifetime “holes-in-one.”
Close to the end of her life, Sam moved to the Gorge to be closer to her immediate family. She lived at Providence Brookside for several years, which she lovingly called “the joint,” and entered hospice care during the summer of 2026.
She is survived by her grandchildren, Keeley and Tanner Brownback, and her sister, Mary Lou Compton, along with her family. She was predeceased by her son, Robert “Bob” Brownback, in 2025 and stated till her last breath that she couldn’t wait to see him.
Thank you to Sam’s care teams who made the end of her life as painless and compassionate as possible: Providence Brookside, Providence Hospice of the Gorge, and Hood River Post Acute. Visit www.AndersonsTributeCenter.com to leave a note of condolence for the family.
Columbia Gorge News, Nov. 11, 2026
To plant a tree in memory of Shirley "Sam" Brownback as a living tribute, please visit Tribute Store.
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