Thomas Sam Short

Thomas Sam Short, 80, of Woodinville passed away December 25, 2022. Tom was born January 15, 1942, in Everett, Washington to Orville and Edna Short. The family moved to Granite Falls while Tom was in high school to a farm on Goebel Hill Road. As a teenager, he spent time with his grandfather Sam Berg building houses in Everett. Tom graduated from Granite Falls High School in 1960, Everett Community College, and Western Washington University in 1965, with a degree in Industrial Arts in Education. He married Joyce Larson in 1967 and they moved to Woodinville in 1968, building their home on Hollywood Hill. He was a teacher for over 30 years, starting at Granite Falls High School and spending most of his career at Juanita High School in Kirkland until he retired, where he taught drafting, building construction, wood shop, applied physics and applied math.

He loved to teach, to build and to ride. He delighted in spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren. He also had a lifelong passion for horses, enjoying annual trips to Arizona after retirement with Joyce to ride and drive his horses every day. He was involved in the Hollywood Hill Saddle Club for over 40 years, serving as president several times over the years and especially focusing on preserving the trail network on Hollywood Hill still in use by horses and walkers. He was a longtime member of the John Wayne Pioneer Wagons and Riders, enjoying many years of riding on the Palouse to Cascades trail and working to improve the trail for all.

He is proceeded in death by his parents Orville and Edna Short, brother Dennis Short, and infant son Samuel Short. He is survived by his wife of 55+ years Joyce, his children Andrew (Mary) Short and Susan (Craig) Lemke, his grandchildren Ryan and Caitlin Short and Peter and Jacqueline Lemke, his siblings Bill (Ruthie) Short, Pat (John) Veale, Doug (Judy) Short, Richard (Debbie) Short, and Terry (Travis) Wallace, and many beloved nieces and nephews and their families.

Funeral services will take place at First Lutheran Church of Bothell. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Hollywood Hill Saddle Club or the OE Short Foundation.