Charles Richard Short

A Christmas Memory...The Land Before Time

Austin your Daddy loved dinosaurs and when the movie "The Land Before Time" came out in 1988 it became his new favorite movie.  The main character is a young Longneck named Littlefoot who is orphaned, this part made your dad very sad, when his mother is killed by a Sharptooth.  Littlefoot flees famine and upheaval to search for the Great Valley his mom had  told him about.  On his journey he meets four young companions: Cera the Threehorn, Ducky the Bigmouth, Petrie the Flyer and Spike the Spiketail. 

Though the story has sad moments it ends happy and your dad Charles was even more in love with dinosaurs after watching it  He could tell you about each different dinosaur and if they were meat or plant eaters and if they could fly or just lived on the ground and so much more.  Aunt Kathy was always on the lookout for plastic dinosaur toys for your dad to play with and he soon had a sizeable collection.  He would bring them to Grandma and Grandpa Dunn's and lay in front of the TV and play with them while he watched TV.  Your dad had quite the imagination. 

Well when Christmas came around Aunt Kathy knew just what to get your dad for Christmas, a Littlefoot stuffed animal.  Your dad  loved sleeping with stuffed animals just as you did when you where his age! Just yesterday I was going thru some pictures and ran across pictures of the Christmas your dad got Littlefoot!  I hope your enjoy these stories and pictures of your dad.  It is such a joy to write them for you.  Know that he is looking down from heaven and sending you love and prayers.  
 
Happy Heavenly Birthday Charles,
Love Aunt , Great Aunt, Kathy

 

Here is another picture of Charles and Aunt Kathy. 

I really cannot remember Charles ever saying when he was young that he was bored.  He could play with playdough for hours and loved to play with his micro GI Joe collection while he layed on the floor in front of the TV a Grandma Dunn's.  One day Charles was sitting at Grandma Dunn's kitchen table and he asked Aunt Kathy which was his right hand.  Aunt Kathy showed him and then wrote the word "right" on a piece  of maksing tape and put it on his hand.  Well this started a game of taping the name of differnt parts of Charle's body.  Before it was over he had masking tape everywhere.  His forehead to his toes were labeled.  What fun and laughter we had.  I can truly say it was never a boring moment when Charles was in the house! 

 Son,
 There are so many happy memories, so many "Dad" memories. from carrying you down the hospital hallways the day you were born. Seeing you start school, make all the moves we made and graduate! Watching you with your cousins, especially the way you always treated the younger ones like they were special. I loved coaching your football and baseball teams. Was so proud when you got your first hit in Little League, when you played up and got a hit against the big boys. When you hit someone playing football and exclaimed about "snot bubbles". The time and dedication you showed to win Districts in wrestling. But I was the most proud when you stopped and played with the little kids. When, even though I had to get on to you for fighting, it was because you were defending a smaller kid. 
  And when you moved back from Chicago, although you nearly broke your Mom's heart, you made the right choice. Starting the Apprentice school and the work you put into it to support your family.
  Seeing you with Nicole and Austin, the love was so apparent. And you left us a wonderful grandson and your wife is still, and always will be, our daughter.
  I miss you every day, but am so thankful you left so many wonderful memories and touched so many lives in your special way. You were a great kid, a wonderful man, and a great father. Thank you for leaving us Austin and Nicole.
Thank you for being my son.
  I Love You, always. 

Austin here is another story for you about your dad from Aunt Kathy.  I thought I would tell you about your dad's first day of school since summer is almost over and you will be starting school soon. 
     You dad was soo excited to finally be able to go to school.  We were all excited for him.  Aunt Kathy and Grandma Dunn were a little sad as we would miss having him around the house all day.  Your dad was especially excited to finally be able to ride the BIG yellow school bus.  So on his first day of school off he went to school and after school the Big yellow school bus was to drop him off at the daycare.  Charle's mom (Grandma) got a call at work from the daycare that Charles was not on the bus when it brought the children to the day care.  She was so scared.  Where was her precious Charles?  Within minutes the school called to let her know that Charles was found and okay.  When the bus driver returned to school and was checking the bus to see if the children left anything on the bus.   To his suprise he found Charles and another little boy curled up and asleep their seat in the back of the bus.  Charles had so much fun on his first day in Kindergarten that he fell fast asleep and missed getting off the bus.  If I remember correctly your dad did this again.  Grandma was so happy that her little boy was found.  
     When Charles came over to see us after school I asked him if he had fun at school.  He said yes and then he said to me , "But I did not learn how to read today.  I thought I would learn to read today."  You daddy loved for us to read to him and could not wait to be able to read to himself.   He did learn to read and read many books to you!

Those we love remain with us
for love itself lives on
Cherished memories never fade
because one loved is gone
Those we love can never be
more than a thought apart
For as long as there is a memory
they live on in our heart

Charles, you are still loved so much and missed by so many!   

HOW WE MISS HIM, BUT THE LOVE FOR CHARLES LIVES ON IN HIS DEAR SON,AUSTIN TAYLOR, MAY THE BUTTERFLIES SURROUND US.

A million times we've needed you,

A million times we've cried.

If love alone could've save you,

You never would have died.

In life we loved you dearly,

In death we love you still.

In our hearts you hold a place,

No one else will ever fill.

It broke our hearts to lose you,

But you didn't go alone.

Part of us went with you,

The day God took you home.

Nicole,

Nicole this site is awesome, I'm man enough to say it brought me to tears.  I miss you and Charles so much.  I'm sorry I haven't been around to be a  friend during these past five years, but i know you are doing great and I am so happy for you. I'm always here if you need anything.   

Love,
Chris

May God continue to bless the Short family. I went to high school with Charles and he was a good guy. Its hard to accept that the good die young, but I know God is in control. One day we will all see him again, until then he is an angel of comfort and peace for his family and friends. My prayers are with Nicole and Austin and I pray that God keep them strong.

 

Yours in Christ,

LaTrice T Price(Brown)