Phyllis Jean (Thomas) Shorts

Phyllis Jean Shorts, age 90, passed away April 6th, in Fort Myers,  Florida.   She  was born  in Grove  City,  PA May  15th,  1928.  The daughter of Arthur and Margaret (Cooper) Thomas,  she graduated from Sharon High School in 1946 and was a recipient of a four-year scholarship to Youngstown University.  She studied at Medill  School  of  Journalism  at  Northwestern  University  and  Kent State University. In 1948 she married William L. Shorts and they began their life of service in the funeral business in Ravenna in 1954.  She was co-founder  and  secretary-treasurer  and  together  they  established homes in Ravenna and Streetsboro Ohio. Phyllis was an active member of Grace Episcopal Church; a member of the alter guild, Episcopal Church Women, and various committees.    She  attended  St.  Hilary’s  Episcopal  Church  in  Fort Myers where she was an usher for years. A  past  president  of  the American  Legion  Auxiliary  #331  of Ravenna, Phyllis held a department of Ohio Chair and  was a member of VFW#1055 Auxiliary.  She was also past president of Rotary Anns and a Paul Harris fellow.  A charter member of the Junior  Thursday  Literary  Club,  she  served  as  first  president.  She  was  a  member  and  past president of the Ravenna Visiting Nurse Association, a 73 year member of Ravenna, Ohio Eastern Star #46, and received the Grand Cross of Color for her work with the Rainbow Girls.  She loved gardening and was an active member of the Iva Austin Garden Club. She was also a member of Business and Professional Women. Phyllis  vacationed  at  Seven  Lakes,  Florida  and  then,  with  her  husband,  became  a snowbird before retiring here in 1999. She was Queen Mother of a Seven Lakes chapter of Red Hatters as well as a feature writer for the Seven Lakers Newspaper. She and her husband also played bridge and euchre and enjoyed dancing and socializing. She was preceded  in  death  by her  husband  of 68  years,  William “Bill” Shorts  and  her brother  Robert  Thomas.  She  is  survived  by  son  Bill  (Malia)  of  Fort  Myers,  daughters  Judith Appleyard of Phoenix, Arizona, Susan (Dr. Harold) Putt of Oro Valley, Arizona, five grandchildren, two great-grandsons, and three step-great-grandchildren.  Brothers Thomas L. (Betty) Thompson and Robert (Brownyn) Thompson of Florida also survive.  Funeral services will be held at 11:00 on Friday, April 26 at St. Hilary’s Episcopal Church, 5011 McGregor Blvd. in Fort Myers. Following the service, please join the family in the Auditorium of  Seven  Lakes  Retirement  Community  for  a  luncheon  reception  celebrating  Phyllis’s  life. Memorials may be made to a charity of choice.  A private interment will be held at the memorial garden of Grace Episcopal Church in Ravenna, Ohio at a later date

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