Pearl E. Shortt Hull was born May 14th, 1926, to Ivory Lee & Nora Ethel (Nelson) Shortt in Ongo, Douglas County, Missouri. She married the love of her life William E. (Gene) Hull June 1st, 1947.
She was preceded in death by her husband, her parents; and her eight brothers: Arlie, Everett, Herman, Milford, Dewey, Darrell and Lester. Pearl was very proud to be a grand-daughter of Pocahontas.
Pearl is survived by her remaining sibling, her sister, Bonnie Shortt Rogers (Pletcher); daughters Karen Fields (Robert) of Springfield; Karol, Las Vegas, NV; granddaughters Shannon Fields, Springfield; Lindsay Taylor (Robert) of Oregon; and great-grandchildren Kuai, Kaiya, Aria and James Taylor. She is survived by numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews scattered across the world and many, many friends.
Pearl taught 1st grade until she received her post graduate school advanced degree in Specialized Reading which she then taught for the remainder of her professional career.
Pearl was focused on the art of teaching children the ease and beauty of reading, and she became President of the International Reading Teachers Association.
Pearl enjoyed her Masonic Orders: Order of the Eastern Star, Crescent Chapter #21, a 63-year Member where she served as Worthy Matron, District Deputy Grand Matron, and Grand Representative to Saskatchewan Province, Canada, and Willard Chapter #551; the Social Order of Beauceants, Springfield Assembly #92, where she served as President, and served for many years on the Supreme Knowledge Committee and Floor Director; Order of the Amaranth, Jewel Court #16, where she served as Royal Matron; and White Shrine of Jerusalem #1 where she served as Worthy High Priestess.
Her hobbies were fishing (even though she could not eat fish due to an allergy); exquisite crochet, which she gave away to those in need; traveling around the world; growing multitudes of flowers and plants; beautiful hand-made quilts; and reading, including intensive studies of all the books of the Holy Bible. Pearl was a member of the Razzle-Dazzle Red Hat Club, and two card groups, one which met once a week to keep her card tricks sharp. She loved the work she did as a volunteer with Mercy Hospital, Springfield, and had amassed more than 16,000 hours as one of their most valuable volunteers.
She will be missed deeply by so many. She loved life, people, learning and feeding her friends. Although we can no longer hear her voice or see her smile, she is still beside all as before. She left her human body but souls who love are never far apart. Her memory will be honored at Christ Episcopal Church, Tuesday, April 4th at 2 pm, and will be buried next to her beloved husband at the Sparta Masonic Cemetery April 4th at 4 pm, under the direction of The Rev. Kenneth Chumbley and Adams Funeral Home, Ozark.