Our father Ronald “Shorty” Lee Borden, 84, of Warsaw, Missouri, passed away Saturday, Oct 19, 2019 at his daughter Rhonda Butler and son-in-law Bill Butler’s home in Independence, MO. He was surrounded by his family and friends. He passed from complications of COPD.
Born October 15, 1935 in Kansas City Kansas, Shorty was raised by Mike and Jenny Hallahan in Tonganoxie, KS.
He married our mother, the love of his life Kari Mae Davis (15) at the age of 19. They were happily married for 53 years before her passing in 2008. Shorty and Kari grew up together and were best friends. Dad took pride in being able to say he was home every day by 5:00 PM to see his mama (Kari). After Kari’s passing, Shorty made frequent commutes to Independence to spend time with his family and friends. When his own health started to decline, he made Independence his final home.
He grew up as a farm boy in Tonganoxie where his love for fishing began on Stranger Creek. Shorty was passionate about the sport of fishing, from his very early youth, until recently when he could no longer safely climb aboard the boat. Shorty shared his love for fishing with his family his entire life and anyone who knows him, knows this. Dad and Robin spent many a day fishing together at Perry Lake.
Shorty is survived by his daughters Robin Borden and myself, Rhonda Butler, grandchildren Jacob Foy & Ashley Foy-Price, her husband Sean Price, brother: Bob Otey, Robert Puhr (a friend he considered his son) and one special little great-granddaughter Sloan Kari Price. He is preceded in death by his wife Kari Borden and sister Fran Morris.
Over the past eight years, since her birth, he focused his love and attention on his one and only great-granddaughter Sloan. She was his little Kari and brought back the sparkle in his eyes and genuine smiles to his face. He looked forward to seeing her and having their precious and sweet conversations.
Shorty worked in the poultry processing industry from his early teens until he retired at the age of 57. In their early years Shorty and Kari spent most of their time fishing and water-skiing on the Lake of the Ozarks. They boated, fished and skied on every river in the area that now feeds Truman Lake. During the establishment of Truman Lake, they purchased a small cabin in POM-O-SE Heights. They retired at the lake in 1995. Over the years he would often be seen tooling around the neighborhood on his golf cart or lawn mower visiting his neighbors.
Shorty loved mowing grass and took great pride in his beautiful well-groomed yard. When not mowing he could be found tinkering in his garage. Some say you could eat off that garage floor. He always wanted everything to be super clean and tidy. He was just like that. His presence sitting in his garage will be greatly missed. He was deeply loved and touched many people’s lives. Our father a husband, fisherman, teacher, friend and buddy.
We would like to thank his many friends and neighbors that kept a keen eye on him over the years and have remained his friend. JD & Jeanette Hawthorn and extended family, Bob Puhr, Dennis & Jackie Hurley, Dave and Gail Shouse, Ronnie & Diane Mathes, Bill and Glena Crawford, Kevin Drum and so, so many more. Thank you all. Your friendship will never be forgotten.
There will be a Celebration of his life at one of his favorite places, the Ameristar Casino in Kansas City, MO Sunday, Nov 10th, 2019 from 2 PM-6 PM. The celebration will be held in the Plateau Room by the buffet. Please join us in celebrating our father and his life. The Chief’s game will be in process so we will have a TV available for those that share the love.