Tamara Elaine Short

Tamara Elaine Short, 49, died Tuesday, January 31, 2012 at Burnett-Calvert Hospice House in Prince Frederick, Maryland. Born April 1, 1962 in Alton, she was the daughter of E. Elaine (Edwards) Howard of Alton and the late Warren Harold Howard. In 1993, Tamara earned an Associate’s degree in general studies with honors from the Charles County Community College, La Plata, Maryland. She went on to earn her Bachelor’s degree in 1996, in criminal justice with 3.98 grade point average from the University Of Maryland University College, College Park, Maryland. In 1997 she completed Squadron Officers School at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama and in 1998 she earned her Master’s degree in security management with honors from Webster University, Albuquerque, New Mexico and received distinguished graduate award. Tamara was a Special Agent for 18 years with the Air Force Office of Special Investigations (AFOSI) most recently assigned at Bolling AFB. She was deployed to Iraq in 2004 as a Civilian Special Agent, supporting Air Force missions. She has received numerous military awards and decorations and was a member of the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association (FLEOA), the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP), and the Southern Illinois Police Chief’s Association (SIPCA). She was also an active member of The Blue Knights Law Enforcement Motorcycle Club MD IV, The Christian Motorcycle Association Southern Messenger’s Chapter, and The All American Harley Owners Group of Hughesville, MD. In her early years she was a member of Job’s Daughters and later a member of Al Sihah Temple #29 Daughters of the Nile and the Alton Chapter 775 Order of Eastern Star where she served as Worthy Matron. She was a member of the Real Life Wesleyan Church, Mechanicsville, MD and was formerly a member of the Copper Creek Church in Maryville, IL. Her loves were her family, her church, AFOSI, and her motorcycle families. She married Raymond Louis Short Jr. on December 19, 1998. He survives. Along with her husband and mother, she is survived by her four children, Michael (Tracy) Daily of Owings, MD, Angela (Jared) McKee of Plainfield, IN, Jaime (Paul) Dunbar of Waldorf, MD, and Christopher Short of Greenbelt, MD, seven grandchildren, a brother, Warren A. Howard of Erie, PA, three sisters and brothers-in-law, Susan Marie and Carl Treadway of Brighton, Peggy Ann and Robert Harper of Carrolton, TX, and Patricia Sue and Lawrence Smith of Layton, Utah, and her best friend since 4th grade, Mrs. Rebecca Showers Luer. She was preceded in death by her father, her son, Jeffery Lynn Oberts, and her grandparents, Adolph and Clara Howard, Fred E. and Bertha L. Hite, and Zale and Hildred Edwards. Visitation will be from 4:00-8:00 p.m. Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at Gent Funeral Home in Alton with an Eastern Star service at 5:00 p.m. Funeral services will be at 11:00 a.m. Thursday, February 9, 2012 at Gent Funeral Home in Alton. Keith Kepley will officiate. Burial will be at Rose Lawn Memory Gardens in Bethalto. Memorials may be made to Real Life Love in Action (FBO Abby Weinberg, 27399 Old Village Road, Mechanicsville, MD 20659) PDF Printable Version

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Tamara Elaine Short

April 1, 1962 - January 31, 2012