E.L. Short

E.L. Short TAHOKA-Services for former State Senator E.L. Short of Tahoka will be held Saturday, June 27 at 1 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church in Tahoka. Senator Short passed away Wednesday, June 24, 2015 at the age of 89. He will be laid to rest by his wife, Dink, at 11 a.m. on Monday, June 29, in Austin at the Texas State Cemetery. The family will receive visitors at Combest Family Funeral Homes in Tahoka from 5:30 to 7 p.m. on Friday, June 26. The Honorable Pete Laney of Hale Center, former Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives who served with Short, is honoring the family by delivering a eulogy at the service. Short was born in Lynn County in the Grassland community to C.E. (Bert) and Evelena (Lena) McCord Short on Oct. 2, 1925. He graduated from Tahoka High School in 1943 and attended Texas A&M University for a semester before enlisting in the U.S. Navy in 1944. In World War II he served in the Pacific and on the mainland of China. He married Opal Ernestine Fortenberry in Lamesa on June 8, 1947. They were married for 67 years. They lived in the Grassland Community before moving to Tahoka in 1959. Short was a farmer, business owner and community leader in Tahoka and Lynn County. The Shorts built the first cottonseed delinting plant in this area and ran that business for 19 years. He owned and operated Tahoka Auto Supply for seven years. He served two terms as Chamber of Commerce President and served as a Rotary Club director. He was a member of First United Methodist Church and served on the church board. Mr. Short was a 32nd Degree Scottish Rite Mason. He recently received his 60 year pin as a Mason. He was also a Civil Defense Director for Lynn County. Senator Short said, It was my privilege to represent 13 counties in West Texas as a State Representative for eight years. It was also my privilege to represent the people of this area in the Texas Senate for four years. (1969-1983). Short is the only citizen from Lynn County and Tahoka to have served in the Texas Senate. He always said that his years of State service were made possible by the kindness and goodwill of the good people of Lynn County who joined the effort to help get him elected. He knew that his wife, Dink was his biggest asset at home and in Austin. While serving in Austin, Senator Short was instrumental in helping Texas Tech University get funding for the medical school and teaching hospital. As a member of the Senate Finance Committee he placed funding for the School of Nursing in the Finance Bill. He introduced and helped pass legislation that still works today for Texans. He testified in Washington in Congress to the House Agriculture Committee about Texas agriculture and cattle problems. Instead of the prairie dog being placed on the endangered species list in Texas, he helped make the law read that the prairie dog is a public nuisance. Mr. Short was preceded in death by his wife; his younger brother, Harry Lee of Tahoka; and his parents. Mr. Short is survived by four daughters, Vivian Bruns and husband, Larry of Sierra Vista, AZ; Leah Taylor and husband, Doug of Tahoka; Patti Kilpatrick and husband, Merle of Brownwood; and Robin Taylor and husband, Wayne of Brownfield; eight grandchildren, Darren Bruns and wife, Lisa of Denver, CO; Collin Bruns, of Clarksville, TN; Carrie Long and husband, Jeff of Tahoka; Clay Taylor and wife, Celeste of Tahoka; Erin Walkup and husband, Josh of Sierra Vista, AZ; Lance Kilpatrick and wife, Nikki of Charleston, SC; Meliah Taylor of San Angelo and Trey Taylor of Grand Prairie; and 11 great-grandchildren, Colton, Warren and Nataly Taylor; Jackson, London and Ryan Bruns; Cagnie and Cambrie Long; and Michael, Evan and Caden Walkup. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to First United Methodist in Tahoka, (PO Box 500, Tahoka, TX 79373) or to a favorite charity. Please celebrate the life of E.L. by visiting www.combestfamilyfuneralhomes.com.