W. Lee "Sonny" O'Daniel Short

A Celebration of Life for W. Lee O’Daniel Short will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, March 4, 2023 at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, located at 1700 E. Empire Street, Cortez, Colorado. Cremation has taken place and inurnment will be held at a later date in the Sylvan Cemetery in Pleasant View, Colorado.

Lee “Sonny” was born on June 21, 1938 in Denton, TX, the son of Alonzo Miller and Emmie Mary Linda (McGar) Short. He passed away on Friday, February 17, 2023 at his home in Cortez at the age of 84.

He married Ruth Diane Letchworth; they had two daughters, and later divorced. He later married Glynn Etta Powell; they had two daughters and two sons and later divorced. He married Reba Joanne Johnson in 2003.

Lee had many professions throughout his life; cowboy, deputy sheriff, welder, carpenter, pipefitter, security officer, and worked for U.S. Steel in the coal mines. His hobbies included; horseback riding and training, playing phase 10, dominoes, poker, spoons, yahtzee, aggravation; watching westerns, going for drives, fishing, boating, camping, four-wheeling, shooting and hunting. As a young man, he took pride in being an extra in some western movies produced, including Yellowstone Kelley, and becoming friends with the lead actors. He was an expert shot, putting on gun exhibition shows as a young man. He was exceptional at carpentry and was always willing to lend a helping hand. Wherever he lived, he made many improvements in the home. He was a wonderful husband and father and the best grandpa/papa/poppaw ever.

Surviving Lee are his loving wife, Reba Joanne (Johnson) Short of Cortez, Colorado; his children, Christina Diane and Sylvia Darlene currently of Tucson, AZ, Leesa Glynn Landrum (Wayne) of Farmington, NM, Wesley Ted Short (Mayra) of Orem, UT, and Kristi Kay Tansil of Morristown, TN; his step-children Cori Francom, Jason Stoney (Tami) of Peoria, AZ, Tonya Short (Tyler) of Tooele, UT, Robert Stoney of Sandy, UT and Tyler Stoney (Kathryn) of Tarzana, CA; his nine grandchildren, nineteen step-grandchildren, eight great grandchildren; and his sisters, Patricia and Sandra.

Lee was preceded in death by his parents, Alonso and Emmie Short; his brothers, Alonzo Junior, James, and Charles; and his son Stacy O’Daniel Short.