Vickie Lou Short

Vickie Lou Short, 63, of rural Williamsburg, Kansas, died at her home on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, surrounded by her loving family. Vickie fought a lengthy battle against breast cancer, with dignity and grace, always remaining positive.

Vickie Lou Facklam was born on March 10, 1963, in Junction City, Kansas, to Albert and Lucille Facklam. The family resided in the Alida community at the time. During the summer of 1963, the family moved to a farm near Oakhill, Kansas. Vickie started Kindergarten in the fall of 1968. She later jokingly said she learned all she needed to know in Kindergarten, and teased her siblings about being the only one in the family who got to attend Kindergarten. Vickie graduated from Clay Center Community High School in 1981, and from the University of Kansas in 1985 with a business degree.

During her “growing up” years, Vickie was a great help to her parents on the farm. She was also very active in the Sturdy Oak 4-H club, including square dancing. She was a member of the Oakhill Presbyterian Church. She ventured out in various other activities in school, including woodworking and pottery. And of course, sports and gardening.

Vickie married Dee Short on January 15, 1994, at the Oakhill Presbyterian Church. They began their married life in the Kansas City area, before purchasing property and moving to the Williamsburg community. Vickie and Dee were blessed with having two sons, Caleb Nathanael and Noah Elijah. Vickie’s strong faith in Christ even showed in choosing Biblical names for her boys. Vickie left the work force, and became a very devoted stay-at-home Mom. She was a great supporter of all of her sons’ academic, athletic, and 4-H adventures. Vickie and Dee gave the boys lots of experiences with travel, camping, 4-H, sports, church, and gardening. Her 4-H square dancing was revived in recent years as she and Dee learned to square dance with the Ottawa Promenaders Club. The farm girl never left her, either. She loved her little Ford 2N tractor, and enjoyed driving it in parades. She was always a Jayhawks, Chiefs, and Royals fan watching or listening to every game she could. Vickie and Dee also enjoyed going together to local, county, and state fairs, to Theatre in the Park in Shawnee and to the annual Jayhawker Days celebration in Williamsburg. Vickie was a believer in Jesus, attending church in Williamsburg and Homewood. She was a consistent leader at Vacation Bible School programs throughout the years with her favorite role playing the puppet “White Water Otter” at Homewood. She was also a regular member of her Bible Study groups. During Covid, she liked the song that said “I just want to go to church.”

Our family would like to say thank you to all of the doctors, nurses, and staff at LMH for all you have done for her. We also give our thanks to all those who have given her gifts and prayers over the years.

Vickie Lou Short is survived by her husband, Dee, of the home, sons Caleb (Fiancée Fernanda Meraz) Short of Emporia and Noah (girlfriend Lynsay Flory) Short of Williamsburg; brother Bert (Jeanie) Facklam of Tescott, Kansas, sisters Cathy (Larry) Harden of York, Nebraska, and Heidi (Frank) Novotny of Louisville, Nebraska; brother-in-law Lee (Tippy) Short of Windham, Maine, and sister-in-law Starr (Bruce) Chase of Osawatomie, Kansas, many nieces and nephews and friends. She was loved by all and will be missed deeply.

She was preceded in death by her parents Albert and Lucille Facklam.

Graveside services for Vickie Short will be held at 10:30am, Monday, November 9, 2026, at Antioch Cemetery 2125 Indiana Road, Ottawa, Kansas 66067. A Celebration of Life will be held 11am, following the Graveside at the Homewood Community Bible Church.

The Family suggests memorial contributions be made to: 

Franklin County Cancer Foundation 

215 South Main Street, 

Ottawa, Kansas 66067. 

Click here to donate online.

To leave a special message for Vickie's family or to share a memory, please visit the guestbook below.