Kenneth Leon Short, 89, of Paris, passed away Monday, January 11, 2016. A funeral service is scheduled for 2:00 PM, Saturday, January 16, 2016 in the chapel of Fry & Gibbs Funeral Home with Rev. Buddy Barnett and Bro. Patrick Cannon officiating. Interment will follow in Meadowbrook Gardens Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 1:00 PM until service time prior to the service on Saturday and they will be at the home of Benny and Pat Short at all other times. Fry & Gibbs Funeral Home has charge of the arrangements.
Kenneth was born May 27, 1926 in the Shady Grove Community of Lamar County to Ulysses L. and Rutha Cherry Short. He married Mary Onita Stone on September 23, 1944. He entered the US Army on March 26, 1945 and was stationed in the Philippines and helped build airfields at the end of World War II. From 1952-1964, Kenneth worked for Babcock-Wilcox.
In April of 1964, he became an ordained minister. He preached at Graham Street Baptist Church. He also preached at Glory Baptist, Bounds Baptist and Twin Oaks Baptist Church in Dundee, Illinois. He came back to Texas and preached in Tigertown and other community churches. Kenneth retired from Campbell Soup in 1989 and became a funeral assistant for Fry & Gibbs Funeral Home. He worked with the Kiwanis Club for many years and served as Lt. Governor.
He was preceded in death by his parents; four sisters, Theresa Short of Pattonville, Margaret Stewart of Maud, Texas, JoNell Salters of Paris, and Wanda Allen of Mansfield, Texas; and one brother, Dennis Short of Paris.
He is survived by his wife of 71 years of the home; sons, Ronnie Short and wife, Penny and Benny Short and wife, Pat; his daughter, Denise Dority and husband, Ricky, all of Paris; his brother, Jerry Short and wife, Linda of Pattonville, Texas; grandchildren, Amber Dean of Spring Grove, Illinois, Rena Harvey and husband, Robert of Fritch, Texas, Duffy Errington of Fritch, Dana Sisson and husband, Bryan of Paris, James Dority and wife, Kenda of Paris, Kenny Dority and wife, Mindy of Paris, Dale Maberry and wife, Lisa of Paris of Paris, Dean Maberry and wife, Amy of Haleyville, Texas, and Shannon Miller of Paris. He is also survived by 23 great-grandchildren; and four great-great-grandchildren.
Pallbearers will be Kenny Dority, James Dority, Ricky Preston, Bryan Sisson, Dale Maberry, and Dean Maberry.
Online condolences may be made to the Short family by visiting www.fry-gibbs.com.
