IRENE SHORT COUNTS

April 23, 2020

Irene Short Counts, of Hueytown, Alabama, passed away at her home surrounded by family on Thursday, April 23, 2020. Irene was born April 17,1930 and spent her childhood in Nauvoo. She received her bachelor’s degree from the University of North Alabama, and masters from the University of Alabama. She also earned an AA, and was a thesis away from a doctorate. She resided in Hueytown all of her adult life. She taught first grade for 42 years, most of that spent at North Highlands Elementary. She received an award from the Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge in 1973 for doing a good job at teaching the American Way of Life. She loved going to estate sales, reading, and spending time with her family. She was a magnificent cook and her Sunday lunches were a blessing to her family for decades. She was a member of Pleasant Ridge Baptist Church for 66 years. Irene was preceded in death by her husband of 59 years, Joseph C. Counts, Sr.; parents, Vina Myers Short and Clyde Benjamin Short; sister, Nella Dean Small; brothers Clyde Otis Short and Audrey Short; and the quadruplets, Charity Free, Faith Carrol, Hope Short, and Franklin Short. She is survived by her children Richard Counts (Tanya), Joe Counts (LouAnna), and Celia Nuss (Kent); grandchildren, Benjamin Counts (Elenie), Fred Dickinson, Joanna Pointer (Kile), and Christie Nuss; great grandchildren, Cooper Counts, Campbell Counts, and Nolan Pointer; and sister, Ila Vee Becker (Bert). A reception and memorial service in her memory will be announced at a later date. The family asks that memorials be given to Pleasant Ridge Baptist Church, 1341 Hueytown Road, Hueytown, AL 35023, (205) 491-3771.