Vilma (Lasswell) Shortt v. Evert Earl

JOHN C. HOLSTEIN, Chief Judge Paternal grandparents, having custody of their grandson pursuant to divorce decree, appeal from a modification of that decree in which the child's mother is awarded custody. Vilma (Lasswell) Shortt and Larry Dean Lasswell were divorced in Grayson County, Texas, on August 22, 1984. Their son, C.M., born September 17, 1977, began living with his paternal grandparents two months before the divorce. The Texas decree provided that the paternal grandparents, Evert Earl and Gladys Louise Lasswell, would retain custody while the parents received only visitation privileges. Four months after the divorce, Vilma moved to Greene County. On June 17, 1985, she married David Shortt. In July of 1985, she filed this action to modify the divorce decree and gain custody of C.M. C.M.'s father and the paternal grandparents opposed the motion.