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Byron Ernest Short

Byron Ernest Short
Byron Ernest Short passed away while in hospice care at Lemay Avenue Health and Rehab in Fort Collins, Colorado on September 8, 2024. He was 94 years old. He was the kindest, most loving, honest, hardworking and empathetic sole despite his strength and height – kind of like a teddy bear. He was the leader of our family, accepting us all as the individuals we are and reciting a joke just when it was needed. We were blessed to have many years with a man of character who loved Jesus and demonstrated his faith by the way he lived. He deeply inﬂuenced us all and we will miss seeing his eyes light up to greet us.

Byron was born on November 20,1929 in Falmouth, Indiana to Merrell Short and Gladys Spaulding. As the ﬁrstborn son of a sharecropper in the Great Depression, Byron learned the value of hard work early in life. His family moved to Salem, Indiana while he was still a child and it was there that he met the love of his life, Tharon Stephenson. In addition to farm work and school, Byron became proﬁcient at marbles, pool, hunting, ﬁshing and piloting a plane. He was a Boy Scout and the local Future Farmers of America President.

Byron and Tharon married on January 1, 1950. In 1968, they moved to Florida with their 5 children and eventually settled in the Central Florida community of Clermont. Byron worked a variety of jobs including selling agricultural fertilizer, being a mechanic for a football equipment company, and owning a bar with his brother. Then he found his dream job, working on an oil platform in the Gulf of Mexico for Conoco Oil.
Since he worked 7 days on and 7 days oﬀ, he commuted from his home in Clermont to Louisiana via his Cessna plane. Byron loved to ﬂy.

After retirement, Byron and Tharon took to the road for a couple of years delighting in the variety of things to see and do in the United States. As Tharon’s health declined, they settled in Beverly Hills, Florida where they celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with family. Tharon passed away from a battle with cancer shortly after. Byron then traveled to visit his children who had scattered across the country and spent time working in campgrounds in the Colorado mountains that he loved. Eventually he settled in Huntsville, Texas near two of his sons and one of his grandchildren. Those years were spent hunting birds with his favorite English Setter, Maddie. He and his sons also hunted deer, elk and bear in Colorado, boar in Texas. Skeet shooting and raising bees were also favorite pastimes. Full of life, he always enjoyed his family and the outdoors.

Ten years ago, changes in his health led Byron to move to Lakeview Assisted Living in Loveland, Colorado. This didn’t slow him down much though. He still would join his sons for ﬁshing and bird hunting in addition to the facility’s activities. He was instrumental in bringing a Friday Happy Hour/Joke Night and Poker games to Lakeview. And he made everyone who met him smile.

On the day Byron passed away, his eyes were sparkling as he talked about the joy of seeing those who preceded him in death: his wife Tharon (2000), his son Mark (2020) and his son Michael (2021.).
Because of his faith in Jesus Christ and his trust in God, Byron was at peace as he passed from this life to one of glory in Heaven.

Byron leaves behind a family that adores him. His son Jeﬀery Short (Carol) of Conroe, TX, his son Merrell Bryan Short (Cindy) of Windsor, Co, his daughter Nancy Sopata (Louis) of Fayetteville, NC. Byron unconditionally loved the ones his children loved so he leaves behind two daughters-in-law who cherish him dearly – Michael’s wife Shelia Short of Aurora, CO and Mark’s wife Roberta Short of Huntsville, TX.

His grandchildren have treasured the time they have had with their sweet grandpa: Windy Martin (Damon) of Denver, CO, Kellie Watkins (Daniel) of Aurora, CO, Haley Littleton (Brady) of Tomball, TX, Jax Short of Aurora, CO, Rachel Short of Austin, TX and Adam Short of Fort Collins, CO. His great grandchildren have also enjoyed the love and aﬀection (and many silly jokes) of their great Papa: Vince Watkins, Anthony Watkins and Cassandra Watkins of Aurora, CO. Colt David Littleton and Briggs Littleton of Tomball, TX and Cadence Short of Austin, TX.

The family will gather for a graveside service and celebration of Byron’s life at 2 p.m. on January 4, 2025 in Oak Hill Cemetery, Clermont, Florida.

In lieu of ﬂowers, the family kindly requests that donations be made in Byron Short’s name to Boy Scouts of America Troop #471 for future Eagle Scout Projects.

Donations can be sent to : BSA Troop 471
1111 South Cherry Street Tomball, TX 77375