Nancy was McPherson’s second youngest child. — Photo taken from Nancy’s Facebook page
KUCHING (June 17): The mother of federal Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri passed away last night.
Bibi MacPherson @ McPherson, 90, breathed her last at Nancy’s residence here at 11.54pm, Berita Harian reported.
Her father John Andrew McPherson was a former British Resident of Kapit, who served under the administration of Rajah Sir Vyner Brooke, while her mother Chua Eng Dok was a Chinese-Iban from Kapit.
When she was 11 years old, McPherson was rescued by a Malay woman named Rokiah after her father was killed by the Japanese during their attempt to flee to Batang Ai, Sri Aman.
She was then raised by her rescuer at Kampung Panglima Seman Lama here.
In 1948, McPherson married Shukri Mahidi, a Malay-Melanau teacher from Santubong.
They were blessed with 11 children, with Nancy being the second youngest.
McPherson was active in politics as well as the Sarawak Federation of Women Institutes (PPWS), serving women especially in the rural area.
She will be laid to rest at the Samariang Cemetery today.