MARY HELEN KIRKPATRICK SHORT, 79, passed away
on Jan. 9, 2012, while living in Plano, TX.
Mary Helen was born on Oct. 13, 1932 to Ester
Yonker Kirkpatrick (RHS-1923) & Samuel Kirkpatrick.
Mary Helen graduated from Ranger High School in 1948
and attended Ranger Jr. College at Ranger, TX achieving
her nursing degree. She married Bill Short in April of
1954. Bill was a Lt. Colonel in the U.S. Air Force
as a navigator. They had a son, Bob Short, in 1960.
After Bill retired from the Air Force in 1971, Mary
Helen and her family moved to Kimberling City, MO,
where they lived until Bill’s death in Jan. of 2009.
During her time in Kimberling City, Mary Helen was
heavily involved in starting an animal shelter and
was in charge of starting up & running the Kimberling
City Library. After her husband died, she moved to
Plano to be near her son, Bob.
Mary Helen is survived only by her son, Bob Short
who is married to Kim and they have a daughter named
Kaila. Mary Helen's sister, Jeanette "Cookie" Cason
(RHS-1952), died in 2000.
HUSBAND: WILLIAM "BILL" SHORT, Kimberling City, MO,
was born Sept. 4, 1930 in Marshall, TX & departed
this life January 6, 2009 in Skaggs Community
Hospital, Branson at the age of 78. Bill had
lived in the area since 1971 coming from Sacramento,
CA. He was a retired U.S. Air Force veteran having
served for over 20 years. Bill was a well known
community leader; and had worked as a real estate
agent in the area for several years & later worked
at Wal-Mart in Branson West.
Survivors include: his wife, Mary Helen Kirkpatrick,
(RHS-1948); son, Bob Short and wife, Kim of Frisco,
TX; granddaughter, Kaila Short and a host of other
relatives & friends.