Martha Ellen Short

Martha E. Short (nee Knight), of Yardley, PA, quietly passed with family at her bedside after a short illness on May 5, 2022, at St. Mary Medical Center in Langhorne, PA. Martha was born on July 5, 1928, in Langhorne, the first of three children of Raymond and Margaret Knight. She spent her childhood in Langhorne, graduated from Langhorne-Middletown High School and later from Moore College of Art in Philadelphia before starting work locally as a graphic artist. In 1953, she married James Short of Calais, Maine, a career officer in the United States Air Force. They would go on to spend the next 21 years on a life adventure that took them and their two sons, Michael and Patrick, to live on Air Force bases throughout the country including Texas, Germany, Vermont, and California. With a love for travel, the family expanded upon those adventures navigating the world, sharing countless memories throughout several European countries, as well as, all across America. Widowed in 1992, Martha spent her last three decades living in Yardley, PA close to her brother Jack Knight, and his family, and near where she was born and raised. Her last great adventure came in her 90th year when she traveled alone to France where she enjoyed exploring the small towns and villages of Provence in the company of her son and daughter-in-law who had been residing there. She was a free and creative spirit that cherished her independence until her final breath. She is preceded in death by her husband James Short, her son Patrick Short, her brother Jack Knight, and her sister Rebecca (Knight) Gray. She is survived by a loving family: her son Michael Short and daughter-in-law Barbara Hoffman (Cleveland, OH), daughter-in-law Joy Short, and grandson Mathew Short (Parker, CO); nephews, Steven and Jeff Knight (Langhorne, PA), and niece Kim (Knight) Jankowski (Green Bay, WI). According to an African proverb, whenever an elder dies, a library burns down. Martha's wit, wisdom, and the grand stories of her long life experience will certainly be missed by all. Family and friends are invited to Martha's Life Celebration on Saturday, May 14, 2022 at 12:30 pm at Dunn-Givnish Funeral Home, 378 South Bellevue Avenue, Langhorne, PA, 19047. A time of sharing will follow at 1:00 pm. Martha will be laid to her final rest in the Knight Family plot, Beechwood Cemetery, Bensalem, PA.