BILLY JOE SHORTER

Billy Joe Winson Shorter, 61, son of James Aaron and Ethel Clark Shorter, was born March 9, 1943, in Sullivan County, Ind. He died May 8, 2004, at University Hospital in Columbia. He was a graduate of Dugger High School and made a career of the U.S. Army, where he attained the rank of sergeant first class. During his Army career, he traveled to many countries. He retired from the service in 1991 and made his home at Plato. He was preceded in death by his parents, nine brothers and a step-grandson. Surviving are his wife, Betty Hoback Shorter; one son, Steve, stationed in Iraq; three sisters, Marilyn Manuel of Cass, Ind., Rosemary Smedley of Hoffman Estates, Ill., and Jean Worth of Jasonville, Ind.; one brother, Tom Shorter of Dugger; one stepdaughter, Debbie Wilhelm; two granddaughters and two step-grandchildren. Services were May 12 at the New Life Ministries Church at Plato with Judith Routh officiating. Burial was in the Ozark Memorial Gardens at Rolla under the direction of Evans Funeral Home. “