Richard "Dick" Short

Richard Lee “Dick” Short, 83, passed away on Sunday, March 5, 2023, under the care and love of staff and residents at Providence Homes Plus in Topeka. He was a long-time resident of the Paxico area.

Dick was born May 27, 1939, on the" Harvey Ranch" in Plymouth, Kansas, the son of Fred and Maggie (Murphy) Short. He attended the local grade school and graduated from Emporia High School in 1957. Dick was an electrical lineman and worked for Kansas Power and Light Company in 1962 and PAR Electrical Contractors until his retirement in 2004. Dick was a member of the IBEW Local Union #304.

Dick embodied the true cowboy spirit and that was evident to everyone that met him. He was firm, but always fair. He would be the first one to lend a hand when others needed help. He was loyal to his friends and loving to his family. He never backed down from a challenge, and he had a true moral compass for right and wrong. Dick was the epitome of a man’s man. If there was an element of danger, he was ready to go! In his younger days he enjoyed racing motorcycles and was a member of the KMSA motorcycle club. It also wasn’t unusual to find him hunting rattlesnakes in the pasture. He was a champion competitive bull rider in the National Old Timer's Rodeo Association, and was known for starting each ride with a lit cigarette in his mouth that would still be in place as he was bucked from the animal. Dick loved working with his livestock in his cattle operation, always with his favorite dog by his side. He enjoyed camping, boating, fishing, shooting trap, and spending time with his beloved family. He loved shooting BB guns and riding horses with his grandchildren, and listening to them giggle as he pulled them through the snow on sleds or on a tube behind his pontoon boat. Dick was an active member of Trinity Lutheran Church in McFarland and caretaker for the Bethlehem Cemetery on Snokomo Road for many years.

Dick married Mary Ann Schultz in September of 1958. They had five children and were later divorced. He then married Sally Edelblute Vorhies on July 16, 1983. She survives.

Dick is survived by his children; Kevin Short (Sandra), Tecumseh, Lisa Zeller (Dan), Paxico, Lori “Guss” Short, Topeka; his stepchildren; Rick Vorhies (Lori) and Angela Nightingale (Jeff), both of Olathe; his daughters-in-law, Jacque Henne (Lowell), Paxico, Janice Short, Topeka; his brother, Morris “Frosty” Short (Debbie), Derby; his sister-in-law, Marjorie Short; Texas; fifteen grandchildren and fifteen great-grandchildren. Dick was preceded in death by his sons, Jeff and Steve Short; his grandchildren, Robbie Zick, Luke Short, and Amber Heigert; his sister Helen Strome, brothers Kenneth, Clayton, Bill, and infant Fred; his brother-in-law, Dick Edelblute and sister-in-law, Peggy Ables.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am, March 13, 2023, at Trinity Lutheran Church in McFarland, Kansas. Reverend Terry DeGiovanni and Reverend Robert Grimm will be officiating. The family will greet friends on Sunday, March 12th, at the church, from 5:00 pm until 7:00 pm. Dick’s remains will be inurned at a later date in Bethlehem Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested to either Trinity Lutheran Church or the Alzheimer's Association, and those may be sent in care of Campanella and Stewart Funeral Home. Online condolences may be made at www.campanellastewart.com.