Ferne (West) Short

Obituary

Class of 1929

Aug. 2, 1911 – Oct. 10, 2003

Ferne Viola (West) Short, 92, of Weiser, died Friday, Oct. 10, 2003, at a Weiser Hospital.

Graveside services will be held at 3 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 14, at Hillcrest Cemetery, Weiser. Family and friends may call Tuesday from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Thomason Funeral Chapel, Weiser.

Ferne was born Aug. 2, 1911, in Pueblo, Colo., the daughter of prominent Weiser pioneers Oakley Allen and Bessie (Purcell) West. Ferne graduated from Weiser High School in 1929, and later graduated from Barnes Business College in Denver, Colo., in 1930.

She was married to Russell Manning Short on March 6, 1930. The couple was married for 46 years, and most of those years they spent living in Boise. Ferne worked full-time for Ada County in the payroll and budget department as deputy clerk auditor and recorder. She retired in 1968 after 25 years of service. Russell died in 1976, and the following year Ferne moved to Weiser to care for her mother. She resided in Weiser for the rest of her life.

Ferne was a 50-year member of Order of Eastern Star Loyaute Chapter #19, Daughters of the Nile #40, and Nydia Club #10

She was preceded in death by her parents; a brother, Henry Edward West; and her husband, Russell Short.

Survivors include a caring cousin, Cecil Shurtleff of Payette; and other extended family.

Family members suggest that memorials be made in her name to Friends of Memorial Hospital, 645 E. 5th, Weiser, ID 83672.