Darlene Ann Short

She was 87 years old as she passed away peacefully from her home in Overland Park, Kansas where she resided with her daughter Debbie and son-in-law Chris.

Darlene was born on April 7, 1935 to Milton Warren Davison and Goldie Ann (Richardson) Davison in Long Lane, Missouri, where she was raised in a 2-bedroom farmhouse along with her eight brothers and sisters. She graduated in 1953 from Buffalo High School and then moved to Kansas City where she began working at the American Telegraph and Telephone Company. Darlene rapidly advanced through the company of AT&T to a supervisor position, and during this time she met her future husband, Ed Short. They were married at Pisgah Baptist Church back in her hometown on October 14, 1956, and began their life together in the Kansas City Northland. Darlene continued working with AT&T for 9 more years until the birth of her baby girl, Deborah Lynn, their one and only child. Her heart and focus then shifted to being a mom, staying home for 13 years before venturing back to full-time employment. She took her strong work ethic and supervisory skills into retail and became the manager at Tennis and Ski Warehouse, then later worked in the Human Resource Department of the Jones Store Company until retirement. Throughout her life, her heart was centered around her faith in Christ and her family. She found beauty in the details of daily life. She never missed an opportunity to enjoy a long cup of coffee with good friends and she savored time with her bridge group that gathered each month. Darlene was an avid fan of the Kansas City Royals and the Kansas City Chiefs. She loved hearing the gospel preached every Sunday morning and was a long-time member of Northgate Baptist Church. Darlene had a sweet and generous gift of hospitality and always put her whole heart into preparations for holidays, birthday celebrations and gatherings with extended family and friends. She had a way of making everyone feel special and loved. She was grateful for her Christ-centered heritage and life-long values instilled by her mom and dad. In later years, she was content with the little blessings of life at home with family. Nothing gave her greater joy than the frequent visits of her beloved grandsons along with their wives and her sweet great-grandsons.

Darlene is preceded in death by her husband, Edward John Short (2018), her siblings Donald Davison, Elsie McNeley, Ina Marshall, Quintella Howerton-Douglas, Willa Dean Bates, and nephew John McNeley.

She was a loving and devoted wife, mom, grandma, great-grandma, sister, aunt and daughter; and her legacy lives on, as she is survived by her daughter Debbie Douglas with her husband Chris Douglas of Overland Park, Kansas; her grandchildren Jake Douglas with his wife Megan Douglas of Merriam, Kansas; Coleson Douglas with his wife Aubrey Douglas of Overland Park, Kansas; Sam Douglas of Gladstone, Missouri; her great-grandsons Ian Edward Douglas, Noah Robert Douglas, Brooks Nolan Douglas, and one more on the way this week; and also her siblings Marjorie Marshall-Hardtke, Marvin Davison with his wife Betty Davison, Norman Davison with his wife Benita Davison, and her sister-in-law Sylvia Davison.

Funeral and Committal service is Monday, September 19, at 10:30 AM at White Chapel in Gladstone, Missouri, with a lunch reception to follow. Memorial contributions to help find a cure for Cystic Fibrosis would be a blessing to Darlene’s surviving family. Donations may be made in her honor to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation at cff.org (Chapter: Kansas-Heart of America - KC; In Memory of Darlene Short; Notification: Debbie Douglas, 11212 W. 115th St., OP, KS 66210) or mailed to CFF Heart of America Chapter, 2405 Grand Blvd, Ste 520, Kansas City, MO 64108-2536.

Darlene Ann Short, age 87, of Overland Park, Kansas passed away on Tuesday, September 13, 2022. Darlene was born April 7, 1935.

A funeral service for Darlene will be held Monday, September 19, 2022 starting at 10:30am and will be immediately followed by burial both at Newcomer's White Chapel Funeral Home and Cemetery, 6600 North East Antioch Road, Gladstone, Missouri 64119.

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