Joe Short

Joe H. Short will be remembered as the man that honorably raised the flag at the Bandera Post Office, on the fields of Bandera Little League before games began and many times he handed the State Flag of Texas and the United States to young cowboys and cowgirls that would post the colors before the Bandera Youth Rodeos would begin. He loved his country and passed the love he shared openly to his fellow Bandera County citizens, young and old.\r\n\r\nJoseph Hunter Short was born in Bandera, Texas on May 23, 1934, to father Leslie E. Short and mother Rachel Hunter Short. His early years were spent roping the cats and dogs in Bandera near his maternal grandparents Mr. And Mrs. Marvin Hunter's home. Granddad Hunter watched Joe playing and often times he welcomed visitors to the Frontier Times Museum while his granddad busily cataloged items for his museum or wrote an article. \r\n\r\nAround Joe's fourth year in life he lost his grandfather Jos W. Short. His parents moved out to the big two story home on top of the bluff of Bandera Creek, about a mile and a half from town. The "Old Short Place" as it was known became the winter home for Joe and his brother Leslie "Bill" Short. From there the boys attended school and enjoyed the many good times of living near their beloved Bandera. Joe enjoyed the time well spent in his grandfather's print shop where he allowed him the opportunity to write and publish his own paper "Short Stuff." Happenings from around Bandera were printed and he had quite a distribution to men away in service all around the world and to those that had moved to all corners of our fine country. When school ended and summer began the family would move to the Divide. The far northwest corner of Bandera County held the headwaters of the Medina's North Fork and the Short Ranch. Ranching and learning to become a stockman was of the utmost importance to Joe and Bill's father Les. The time spent there would dovetail into a passion for Joe.\r\n\r\nUpon graduation from Bandera High School he attended College at Tarleton State in Stephenville, Texas for two years. He married his high school sweetheart after his sophomore year and began work at the airbase in Hondo, Texas. He was pegged for a job at the Hondo Anvil due to all that his granddaddy Hunter had taught him while growing up in his print shop in Bandera during his school years. The ware of 1956/57, the Suez/Sinai, called him to duty. In 1956 he was inducted to serve with honor in the United States Army. He was stationed in France, Germany and the Lebanon. He served his country abroad for two years.\r\n\r\nOn returning home from the service he no longer had a job at the base in Hondo nor at the Hondo Anvil. His cousin Ray Marvin Hay quickly put him to work part-time in his print shop in Bandera. Shortly after, he was asked to work part-time at the Bandera Post Office. With two good part-time jobs he began to purchse sheep and leased two farms west of Bandera in Tarpley, Texas.\r\n\r\nHis marriage produced two children, a daughter, Cynthia Jo and son, Joseph Bradley. As they grew he became very involved with youth activities in and around Bandera and the Texas Hill Country. Joe enjoyed his time behind the plate in an umpire's uniform and behind the table serving as the President of the Bandera County Little League. From the hard packed sand of the baseball fields he would turn to the sand loam field of Mansfield Park arena and serve as the Bandera County Youth Rodeo Association president. When fall and school returned, the season of stock shows were upon the community. He took great pleasure in helping the youth of the community while serving as the Hill Country District Livestock Show President. He was a director and president serving the Bandera County Stock Show as well. During his time on the board for the District Stock Show he took great pleasure in building the Angora goat show to the largest in the world. Mohair was king for a long while in the Edwards Plateau. He truly enjoyed serving as the Superintendent of the Angora show for eight years at the district level. His passion of raising and showing sheep, angora goats, meat goats and cattle was passed down to generations of his family.\r\n\r\nJoe enjoyed working with and for the people of the Bandera community as their Postmaster for 30 years. He had many a good conversation over the counter with his many friends. In 1989, he retired and moved to the Short Ranch on the Divide near Vanderpool. He and his wife Shirley Ann Short raised and shared their love of cattle and goats with their grandchildren. For many years you could hear them cheering on the grandkids from the grandstands at rodeos, youth baseball, football and stock shows across the State and sometimes beyond.\r\n\r\nJoe left his earthly home on January 9, 2016. He leaves behind him, daughter, Cynthia Jo Edwards and husband, Randy; son, Joe Brad Short and wife, Leah; step-daughters, Tana K. Jureczki and husband, Mike, Teri A. Trull and husband, Frank; step-son, Keith Eismann and wife Jamie; eight cherished grandsons and a granddaughter that he will be cheering on from heaven's grandstand.\r\n\r\nMr. Short will lie in state Thursday, January 14, 2016, 12 PM-9 PM at Grimes Funeral Chapels in Bandera. Services will be held Friday, January 15, 2016, 10 AM at Grimes Funeral Chapels officiated by Mr. Martin Smith. Interment will follow at Vanderpool Cemetery. \r\n\r\nIn lieu of flowers the family requests that donations in memory of Joe H. Short be made to Bandera County Stock Show, PO Box 187, Bandera, Texas, 78003.