◡◠ڿڰۣ✿ڿڰۣ◠◡Mom◡◠ڿڰۣ✿ڿڰۣ◠◡

Born Agnes Annette Brown, but we later discovered that when she had applied for her Social Security card she switched her first and middle name. She was never fond of the name Agnes, and was known by everyone as Annette.

Annette was born in Fort Worth, Texas the oldest daughter of Raymond "Jack" Brown and Willie Mae Godi. She married at an early age and had a daughter, Rayma. That marriage failed soon after the baby was born. But not giving up on true love she found the love of her life, James H. Short. He raised Rayma as his own after they married in 1952. Two children James (Jim) Short, Jr and Bettina were born from this union.

The Short family seemed to have a bit of the gypsy in their blood and were never in one place very long. Annette and James moved from Texas to Arizona and California many times. If this bothered Annette she never let on, she was happy to be with her husband and children.

James was a carpenter and handyman so he was able to find work in any location. They also seemed to follow James' parents from place to place. His own father did the same type of work. And often times he would send word that he had work in a new location and James and Annette would follow them.

Annette helped nurse her husband James as he went through cancer, in the later years of their marriage. She never left his side. He's wish was to be able to stay home and he did thanks to her help and the help of Hospice. They were constant companions in the later years.

I'm not sure I've ever met anyone who loved family as much as Annette did. She was one of the most devoted grandmothers you could find. She became a grandmother at an early age and helped to raise her first granddaughter. From that time on she was available for any of her many grandchildren, great grandchildren and gr great grandchildren. Raising many of them in her own home over the years. She kept many of them every day while their parents worked. She had her own little daycare.

She loved and adored babies and was thrilled when she was presented with a new one to care for. Nothing pleased her more. As her health failed at the very end she was still trying to raise her 9 month old gr great grandson alone, despite the protests of family members. No one knew just how sick she really was until the end. She never really let on that her health was as bad as it was. Her biggest fear was she could not care for the grandchild she was raising. Some of her last words were about him.

Annette loved to sew and crochet. Over the years she loved to do any craft and was always working on some new project. Hand making all of her Christmas gifts for the entire family most years. When her youngest daughter was in cheerleading she was very involved in making homecoming corsages for all of the pee wee cheerleaders. They were gorgeous. She loved games. She loved to play most any kind of game. Card games and dominos in the early years, and computer games later on. She would even watch game shows.

I've been very fortunate to have had two wonderful mother in laws, both I loved very much. I would only hope that I can be the kind of mother-in-law and grandmother Annette was. She set a high standard for me to live up to.

She is missed by all of her family and I will never forget her love and kindness to me. We will forever miss her love.

by Beverly

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There's magic in a Mother's touch,
And sunshine in her smile.
There's love in everything she does
To make our lives worthwhile.
We can find both hope and courage
Just by looking in her eyes.
Her laughter is a source of joy,
Her works are warm and wise.
There is a kindness and compassion
To be found in her embrace,
And we see the light of heaven
Shining from a Mother's face.

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When a child is born, so are grandmothers.

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A house needs a grandma in it. ~Louisa May Alcott

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