Leslie C. Short Jr.

Leslie Clyde Short, Jr., 78, Gladstone, MO, passed away on Sunday, November 23, 2014. He was born August 13, 1936 in Kansas City, Mo and was a lifelong resident of Kansas City, North. He graduated from NKC High School in 1954, and from UMKC in 1959 with Bachelor’s degrees in music and education, and later a Master’s degree in education and administration. His first job was as a general music teacher in the Junction City, KS, public schools. He returned to this area in 1961 as a 5th and 6th grade classroom teacher at Pershing Elementary School in the Kansas City School District. He joined the Park Hill School District in 1969 as a 6th grade math teacher at the former South Junior High before he became the principal of the East Platte Elementary and Barry Middle Schools in the R-III District in 1973. He returned to the Park Hill District in 1976 as principal at Southeast Elementary School and then was principal of Renner Elementary from 1986 until his retirement from the district in 1993. After retirement from Park Hill he served from 1993 to 2002 as an assistant professor of education at Park College/University, teaching in their student teacher program.

He was a lifelong member of the Community of Christ church, serving as a camp counselor and swimming instructor for many years at youth and family camps. He held the priesthood office of Elder and served as pastor of Claycomo and Gladstone congregations, and was a member of the Highlands congregation since its inception.

He was a gifted pianist and taught piano lessons for many years. He enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren, camping, boating, woodworking, riding his scooter, and building and flying RC airplanes as a member of Kansas City Flying Circuits.

He was a loving husband, father and grandfather who blessed many people’s lives with his out-going personality and unique sense of humor. He was dearly loved and will be greatly missed.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Clyde and Dorothy Short.

Survivors include wife, Nancy Short, of the home; brother, Robert Short, Kansas City, MO; sister, Chris Rist and husband Gary, Parkville, MO; daughters, Carrie Bond and husband Kevin, Kansas City, MO, and Laura Self and husband Chris, Bentonville, AR; grandchildren, Samantha Giltner, Benjamin and Drew Bond; Tyler, Jenni, Logan and Ryan Self.