James Howard Short III

About James

James Howard Short, III born on January 19, 1973, passed away on January 22, 2022, in Leonard, Minnesota.

James was born in Fort Worth, Texas to James H. Short, Jr, and Brenda Pruitt. He spent most of his younger years in Alvarado, Texas, a 1992 graduate of Alvarado High School. Immediately after high school, he enter the Air Force where his career field was SP, U. S. Air Force Security Forces, he spent a ten-year career in locations like Turkey, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, to name a few.

After his military career, he continued law enforcement in Phoenix, Arizona for another ten years. For the past three, he had worked at Gustafson & Gourdge, Inc- in Clearbrook, MN. Moving from balmy Phoenix to the cold North Country to work for a good friend.

James was a very loyal Cowboy fan, win or lose. During his younger years in youth association and high school, he participated and excelled in all sports. Even pitching and boasting a left-handed no-hitter when he played for the Alvarado Youth Association.

James met the love of his life, Nikki Wright in Arizona. They later moved to Minnesota with James’s best friend Dylan Goudge. Then got married in 2020 in San Diego, California in a beautiful beachside wedding. The perfect and dream wedding for both. The couple traveled to Hawaii to celebrate their wedding anniversary.

James is survived by his loving wife Nikki Short, daughter Passion Short, stepsons Gabriel and Micheal Nunez, father James Short, Jr and mother Brenda Pitchford, Stepmother Beverly Short, Sister Charlotte Pyonk and husband Thomas, Stepbrother Jason Woolard, Nephews Thomas Pyonk, III and Dylan Pyonk, Nieces Jillian Woolard and Jeorgia Woolard. And many, many friends and relatives from his new family.

James is preceded in death by his half-brother Richard Pitchford and grandparents James and Annette Short and Weldon and Edna Pruitt.

memorial service

Visitation for James

January 29, 2022

The visitation on Saturday will be from 1:00 - 3:00 p.m.

A Celebration of Life for James will be held at a later date in Arizona.

Funeral/Cremation Provider: Cease Family Funeral Home