Alma “Mae” Short May 23, 1923 - Sept. 24, 2018 McCOOK, Neb. — Alma “Mae” Short of McCook passed away Monday, Sept. 24, 2018, at Hillcrest Nursing Home. She was 95 years old. Mae was born on May 23, 1923, at Holyoke, Colo., to parents, William A. and Alma (Schnell) Hanke, Sr. Mae attended school in Holyoke through third grade, until her family moved to McCook. She graduated from McCook Public Schools on May 27, 1942. While in high school, Mae participated in sports long before Title IX was mandatory. She also played the alto French horn in band and was a member of the McCook Band, when among all other bands, was chosen the most outstanding marching band across the field of the Nebraska-Kansas game. She also participated in Glee Club and Girl’s Athletic Association. She worked during high school as a soda jerk at the Keystone Hotel. Mae was baptized on Easter Sunday, April 12, 1936, at the First Baptist Church in McCook. She remained a devoted and active member throughout her lifetime serving as Sunday School teacher, sang in the choir, served as an officer in the Women’s Missionary Society, and always helped in the kitchen when needed for any activity. Shortly after graduation, Mae moved to California, where she lived with an aunt and worked for the Bell Telephone Company. She transferred to the McCook office in 1944 to help her younger siblings after their mother was diagnosed with cancer. Mae met James Ralph Short of Titus, Ala., who was a MP at the McCook Air Base. They married on May 16, 1946. She continued to work for the telephone company and she and Jim were an integral part of helping her father get the Bison Drive-In Theater up and going. In 1953, Jim was appointed sheriff. They would move into the sheriff’s residence for the next 34 years. It was at that time a daughter, Karen, was born and 27 months later a daughter, Donna, was born. Along with Jim’s responsibilities Mae also acquired the responsibilities of cooking for any of the prisoners seven days a week, 365 days a year. Mae had taken 17 years off from the telephone company to raise her family and the duties of being a sheriff’s wife. It was at that time she decided to go back to work for “Ma Bell,” logging in 21 years and four months until the local office closed in 1980. She was a member of the Communications Workers of America. She enjoyed her grandchildren and their visits, playing games, eating cookies, and drinking Shasta strawberry kiwi soda. Mae and Jim enjoyed their trips seeing old friends, relatives, and new places. Preceding her in death were her parents, William and Alma Hanke; husband, Jim Short on Dec. 6, 2002; sister, Virginia Fisher; and three brothers, William Jr., Kenneth, and Dr. Vernon Hanke. Survivors include her two daughters, Karen (Lynn) Salyer and Donna Short, all of Kearney; grandchildren, David (Dawn) Salyer and their children, Haven, Evelyn, Jocelyn and Peregrine of Kearney; Joshua (Kellanie) Salyer and their children, Laila, Ronan, and Esmae of Kearney; Justin Salyer of Central City; and Moriah (Colter) Bartram and their children, Angelo and Dorian of Lincoln; sister, Wilda (Marvin) Willis of Amarillo, Texas; numerous nieces, nephews, and a host of friends.

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