Margaret "Maggie" Short

She was born May 16, 1940 in Salem, Indiana, to Glenn and Gladys (Sullivan) Shrum.

What you called her determined the phase of her life in which you knew her. In childhood, she was Margaret Ann. In her adult years, she was Margaret until she became Maggie. But her favorite name was Mamaw.

Margaret Ann was a graduate of Salem High School, Class of 1958, where she played clarinet in the marching band.

She went on to graduate from Spencerian Business School and worked for the New Albany Floyd County School Corporation for 37 years. The first 16 years were as the principal’s secretary at Hazelwood Junior High School, where hundreds of kids “worked in the office” with Mrs. Short. The remaining years were in the Accounting Department in the Administration Building. Margaret helped train and mentor many of the bookkeepers in the school system over the years. She always wanted to be a teacher, and she was, even if she wasn’t in the classroom.

While she was naturally shy and introverted, she was involved in her church and community. She was a member of Wesley Chapel United Methodist Church, the United Methodist Women, the Christopher Harrison Chapter of the DAR, Order of the Eastern Star: Salem Chapter, and Tri Kappa- an Indiana philanthropic sorority. She was a volunteer usher at Actors Theatre of Louisville and the Kentucky Center for the Arts. She was also the ultimate house sitter and dog sitter for many years.

But, the best job she ever had was when she retired and moved to her son’s house to be the live-in nanny for her only granddaughter, Reagan Michelle Short. Reagan was the joy of her life and she and Mamaw were best buddies.

She was blessed with two children who survive her, Nancy Short of Indianapolis, IN and Gary Short (Debra) of Alpharetta, GA. In addition to her children and granddaughter, those who are left to cherish her memory are the rest of her family: Debbie Short, Collin, Peyton, and Edie Fallick, Dana Bois, Chelsea Draper and Mike Deering, Jason, Tory, and Cora David, her nieces and nephews, and many friends.

She was the 4th of five children. She was preceded in death by two brothers, Lotus Eugene and Robert Shrum and one sister, Marilyn Shrum Mays. She is survived by a brother, Larry Shrum.

She was the ultimate cheerleader and sports fan, spending thousands of hours in bleachers attending her children’s and granddaughter’s sporting events and school functions. She loved watching them play tennis, volleyball, baseball, basketball, and softball. She loved watching Atlanta Braves baseball and University of Louisville sports.

She was thrilled that Reagan began playing clarinet in the middle school band, playing the same restored clarinet she had played 70 years earlier.

Maggie marked the last item off of her bucket list when she went for a hot air balloon ride on her 80th birthday. She loved it and a bonus to the experience was landing face down in a cow pasture! What a birthday present! She enjoyed traveling and concerts with friends and attending Broadway Across Louisville shows as a 33-year season ticket holder.

She loved her family and loved Jesus. She was a believer and while we know where she will spend eternity, we will miss her for the rest of our lives. We are grateful that we had her as long as we did, even if it wasn’t long enough. She brought so much JOY to all who knew her. Every time we see her favorite bird, a beautiful red Cardinal, we will think of her with a smile.

Visitation will be on Tuesday, November 21 from 2:00-8:00 pm at Kraft Funeral Home, 2776 Charlestown Road, New Albany, Indiana. Funeral services will be Wednesday, November 22 at 11:00 am with visitation from 9:00-11:00 am prior to the service, also at Kraft Funeral Home. Burial will follow at Crown Hill Cemetery, Salem, IN.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Ransburg YMCA, 501 N. Shortridge Rd., Indianapolis, IN, or Wesley Chapel United Methodist Church, 2100 US-150, Floyds Knobs, IN 47119.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.kraftfs.com for the Short family.