Obituary of Jo Hayes Short

For a period of time, something special and anointed walked the many roads of this earth. Bonnie Jo Hayes Short on January 22, 2014 (81) was escorted by her Righteous angels from this earthly confinement into the Eternal Heavenly Realm of our Lord Jesus Christ. My belief is that the spouse should write the obituary of the other spouse if possible. Outside of God, no one knows his or her spouse better. Jo was the absolute perfect wife, and my world was changed by her presence and so were many others. Jo was born June 26, 1932 in the extremely small town of Blount Springs, Alabama. Being the youngest in the family, the other siblings having moved off and married, left her to assist her dad, milking cows before school time, plowing with a mule, and picking cotton. Hard work and parental discipline instilled in her a moral compass, which always pointed north and carried through to her adult life. Jo and I (Ronald E. Short) were married on April 30, 1956 (57 years). In 1968 we decided to move to Idabel, Oklahoma. The main reason we moved to Idabel was not just a job at the hospital, but for the ministry and mission work. When first arriving in Idabel Jo found seven little elderly ladies to watch and care for, and I was the Director of Medical Laboratory and X-ray of the McCurtain Memorial Hospital. We were in shock after living in Birmingham, Alabama to arrive in a town with 4 traffic lights and not even a 7/11 convenience store. We built our home in Idabel over 43 years ago and have lived there ever since. Early on Jo and I ministered to the Choctaws in a small church next to the fairgrounds, and later founded several churches including pastoring Old Rock Church in Garvin. Jo worked for several doctors who have since passed on, Dr. Howard, Dr. Brinson, and Dr. Whitaker. She also worked for many years as Assistant Medical Laboratory Tech. at McCurtain Memorial, and she accompanied her husband on many Missionary Evangelistic trips to South America, Dominican Republic, and lived for some time in Puerto Rico. When it became necessary to put our children in school in Oklahoma, she continued a life of sacrifice being both mother and father while I continued the mission work. Jo was the personification of a sacrificial life. She gave up everything for her husband, family, and ministry, which she loved with every fiber of her being. Jo was a member of THE CHURCH located in Garvin, Oklahoma and a devoted Christian who walked the talk every day. She shared words of wisdom with untold thousands and was a constant source of encouragement but never compromised or sugar coated the truth. The greatest thing that can be said about a person at the end of this earthly journey is “You mad a difference”. She has affected the lives of untold numbers and will leave an empty hole that can never be filled. Those who survive and await their departure and reunion are husband Dr. Ronald E. Short children Rick Robinette and wife Paula, Darrel Shane Hayes Short, daughter Rhonda Elisa Mecoyan all of Idabel. Grandchildren Ricky Robinette and wife Dawn of El Dorado, Arkansas, Brian Robinette and wife Tina of Broken Bow, and Sevan Mecoyan of Idabel. Great Grandchildren Taylor Robinette or El Dorado, Arkansas, Shane Robinette of Shreveport, Louisiana, Kassandra Touchstone and Jessika Moore both of Broken Bow, Oklahoma. Jo was preceded in death by her parents, Burvy Richardson Hayes and Rosa Belle Swann Hayes, siblings Katherine Irene Miller Dyer, Harry Richardson Hayes, Eulah Estella Hayes, Twins Elsie Pauline Hayes Greer and Essie Kathleen Hayes, Ross Leroy Hayes, Alta Rose Hayes Potera, Mildred Mae Hayes Bellew, and Bobbie Ruth Hayes. Jo did not receive medals or praise for her dedication and time. Living alone God has rewarded her with wings to fly. For she has been the “Wind Beneath the Wings” of her husband, children, family, and friends. Jo is more than a memory. She is a living presence in spirit with each of us. Services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, January 26, 2014 at the First Baptist Church in Idabel, OK. Interment will follow at the Denison Cemetery in Idabel, OK. The family will receive friends from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 25, 2014 at the funeral home.