Lois Short, 93
Lois Short, a forever resident of Wayne County, died Sunday, August 3. She was 93. The family will honor her wishes for a brief inurnment service to be held at the Western Reserve National Cemetery in Rittman on August 19, 2025 at 10:15 am. Those who wish to attend should gather at the entrance to the cemetery at 10:00 am.
Born January 2, 1932, she was the daughter of Carl and Mabelle Saurer. Her childhood was spent on the family farm near Dalton which later became Lake Harmony. She was part of both the Dalton and Apple Creek School systems and had lifelong friendships from those days. She became a bookkeeper for the Wayne County Home for several years.
On September 2, 1948, she married Nevin Short. Due to their young age, a few relatives were skeptical that the marriage would last but last it did! They celebrated a 69th wedding anniversary just 3 weeks prior to Nevin’s death in 2017. She never stopped thinking about him from their first meeting through her final hour.
While her children were in elementary school, Lois was a loyal room mother in helping to plan holiday celebrations for the classrooms. Her skill with crafts always showed her creative side. For a number of years she and Nevin, along with the Jackson and Tracy neighbors, decorated their home exteriors for Christmas which were enjoyed by many traveling west on Route 30.
She loved the art of homemaking. Besides a fastidious housekeeper, Lois had many roles: a homework tutor for her children, a referee for their squabbles, operated a laundry for a mountain of clothes, was a nervous mother when helping her children in those driving permit years, a chauffeur, a nurse, a savvy bargain shopper, dog groomer, an effortless cook (or so it seemed: how did she have all things on the stove and oven ready for serving at the same time?). It is her knowledge as a baker, especially cookies, which is her legacy with family and friends. She helped her husband with his business by managing the phone and keeping records decades before the invention of computers. In retrospect, these homemaker skills earned her honorary degrees from her family in home economics, business management, education, child psychology, nursing, botany, animal science, and economics.
She studied piano in her formative years, loved music, sang gentle lullabies but could also call her children (with their middle names) like thunder when she needed their attention! For twenty years (after a suggestion by longtime neighbors Jim and Joan Jackson) Lois became an election judge for her area of East Union Township. She was glad she had the unique chance with civic duty. She retired when electronic voting machines were in place.
She loved the home that she and Nevin designed and built in 1955 next to her parents, and was glad it expanded by 8 feet with their children. She was grateful she could remain there until just a few months ago. Visitors always had the chance for coffee and cookies (or Peppermint Patties) when visiting, and Lois especially enjoyed quiet moments sitting in the dining room enjoying the birds at the large feeder Nevin created.
An incredible life in 93 years she leaves the world in a better place with her patience, supportive role for family, friends and neighbors, a quiet and confidential manner with difficult issues and her sensible understanding of life’s rhythm: beginnings, challenges, sadness, celebrations, laughter, reflections, and endings.
Lois is survived by her children Cynthia of Dalton, Timothy of St Paul MN, Dale (Sylvia) of Cochranton, PA, and Eric (Brenda) of Wooster; 6 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren complete her family circle. She was preceded in death by her husband, Nevin, parents Carl and Mabelle Saurer, and her brother, pilot 1st Lt. Roger L Saurer, who perished over the Adriatic Sea in World War II.
Her children extend appreciation to Patty and Jim Brown, Bob and Sharon Hollwager, Harve and Regina Jacobs, Carole VanPelt and Travis Hutchinson, Norm and DaLee Filburn, Fannie Hershberger, Katie and Mose Miller, Anna and Abram Miller, Ruby and Dan Miller, Harold Saurer, the Keller family, John and Kathy Barnes, for their support to Lois; and equally they thank the many friends and family, too numerous to name but known in their hearts, who visited Lois in-person, by letter or telephone; and those at Brookdale Senior Living for their comfort and care.
Rather than floral tributes, donors can honor her life with a contribution to LifeCare Hospice at 1900 Akron Rd. Wooster, OH 44691.
