Kenneth Cameron Short

Kenneth Cameron Short II, 61, of Abilene passed away Sunday, August 18, 2013. Funeral services will be at 4:00 pm on Friday, August 23, at Pioneer Drive Baptist Church officiated by Rev. Stan Allcorn and Dr. Jeff Reid. Burial will follow in Elmwood Memorial Park. Visitation will be from 6:00 to 8:00 pm on Thursday, August 22, at The Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Road. Kenneth was born in Abilene, Texas on May 6, 1952 to Kenneth Cameron and Ila Belle Brewer Short. He attended both Fannin and Johnston Elementary Schools, Mann Junior High, and Abilene High School. He graduated from Abilene High School in 1970. As a young man, from ages 14 to 18, Kenneth worked as a lifeguard at the YMCA on North 6th Street and as a summer recreation counselor at Johnston Elementary School. While in Mann Junior High School, Kenneth played both football and the coronet in the band for three years. During his three years at Abilene High School, Kenneth played the coronet for the Abilene High School Marching Band and sang tenor for the Abilene High School A Cappella Choir. As a senior, he received the award for All-State Choir member. He also had the honor of being an exchange student and travelled to Washington state. Kenneth graduated from Hardin-Simmons University in 1978 with a Bachelor of Science degree. While at HSU, he was a member of Alpha Phi Omega in which he met his very closest lifelong friends John Lybrand and Randy Perkins. As a college student, Kenneth worked the night shift at a Skinny’s Convenience Store and at Jack and Jill’s Donut Shop. He was also employed as a summer custodian at Johnston Elementary School by AISD. On June 4, 1983, Kenneth married Mary Kathleen ‘Kathee’ Harkrader at University Baptist Church. Kenneth began his teaching career at Fannin Elementary School where he was a 6th grade math teacher and coach. When 6th grade turned into middle school, Kenneth moved to Franklin Middle School and began teaching 6th grade science. When Franklin Middle School closed, he moved to Craig Middle School and taught 6th grade social studies and 7th grade Texas history. Kenneth had a total of 35 years of teaching experience in the Abilene Independent School District. Throughout his teaching experiences, he respected and loved all of his many administrators and fellow teachers. He was a member of NEA, TSTA, and AEA. Kenneth’s favorite summer vacations were spent traveling to national parks and historic sites in the United States. Grand Teton, Yellowstone, Yosemite, Arches, Grand Canyon, Rocky Mountain, Niagara Falls, and Mount Rushmore were his favorites. Because Kenneth’s great-grandfather fought in several Civil War battles and because of his love for history, he also loved the battlefields of the Civil War, especially Gettysburg. Kenneth was preceded in death by his parents, wife, and brother-in-law Stephen Meade Rinard. He is survived by his sister Carolyn Short Rinard, niece Lynlee Rinard Ridley and family, and nephew Cameron Stephen Rinard and family all of Abilene, Texas. Memorial donations may be made in honor of Kenneth Cameron Short II to the Abilene Education Foundation, 241 Pine Street, Abilene, TX 79601, and Rescue the Animals SPCA, 4620 North 1st Street, Abilene, TX 79603.