John Lee Short, born Oct 10, 1943, in Olive Hill, Kentucky, to Richard and Lillian (Richards) Short, passed Thursday, March 21, 2019, having several months’ illness. John enjoyed life, loved to sing, to clog, to fish, to visit with friends, and he made friends of everyone, generally speaking. Having married his high school sweetheart, Carolyn Hensley, he attended Morehead College to major in elementary education.
With a young family, he changed his goals. He worked in several places after coming to Indiana, Firestone, twenty-nine years at Commercial Vinyl, and later worked in cabinetry. John loved the Kentucky Wildcats and New Castle youth basketball, having refereed many games at the former YMCA.
His parents and his second wife, Nellie, passed before John; he and Nellie had been married thirty eight years at her passing. Remarrying in 2012, John and Vechell (Bilbury Keaton) Short reclaimed joy, both having been sadly widowed. He taught her to fish and she schooled him in a deeper faith walk.
Vechell passed three years later. Left to mourn John’s passing include Carolyn Tidwell, mother of his three grown children, Stephen Thomas (wife Kim, granddaughter Megan), Kemberlie Short Sawahneh (grandchildren Jordan and Sarwah), and Catherine Short Watson (grandchildren Emanuel, Morgan, Amber, and Devon), all residing in the State of Alabama, and stepdaughter Ginger Thomas, of Boston, Massachusetts. John was particularly fond of Sarah Hamilton, whom he called “Miss Sarah” and claimed she was “an angel who loved him unconditionally”.
John also is survived by siblings Reverend Richard (Elizabeth) Short, Jim (Gay) Short, Shirley (Jack) Lowe, Sue (Donald) Lambert, and Mary (Corky) Davis, all of Olive Hill, Kentucky, and several nieces and nephews. He will also be missed by many friends, especially his dear friend Susie Allard. His local caregivers have been Dennis and Cathy Hamilton.
Appreciation is extended to Henry Community Health, St. Vincent’s Hospital, and Stonebrooke Rehabilitation Center, whose staffs administered medical care, and to Stonebrooke residents, especially roommate Mike Ellson, who offered friendship as John faced a challenging time, and to Jodie Ramage who often transported John to medical appointments. John was grateful to the NCHC Animal Shelter that fostered his beloved dog Jakey throughout John’s tragedy. Services will be at 3:00 p.m. Tuesday, March 26, 2019 at Hinsey-Brown Funeral Service in New Castle with Pastor Brian Hisle, Pastor Danny Douglas, and Reverend Elwood Evans officiating.
Burial will follow at South Mound Cemetery. Visitation will be from 1:30 – 3 p.m. prior to the service. Memorial contributions may be sent to Henry County Humane Society, 11 Midway Dr., New Castle, IN 47362 or the National Kidney Foundation, 911 E. 86th St., Ste.
100, Indianapolis, IN 46240. You may express condolences or share a memory of John at www. hinsey-brown.com.
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