Jean Embry Long

d. October 26, 2023

Jean Embry Long Profile Photo

Oh, what a wonderful life!!!!

My beautiful Mother, Jean Lanell Long, age 89, passed away peacefully on October 26, 2023 (The same day my brother died in 1983). She was surrounded by love as Richard, son-in-law, and Deborah, daughter and 10th child, both held her hands and watched as she took her last breath. She lived a wonderful long life and it was her time to go. Just like her entire life, she “Did it my way!” (Frank Sinatra was one of her favorites). We were so incredibly blessed to be her caregivers for the past 3 ½ years and poured all our love into her. She was spoiled (heated plates and all) and treated like a Queen! When she woke up that last morning, she couldn’t get out of her chair, and she knew it was her time. Not too many people get to live such a long, beautiful life, she was just two months shy of her 90th birthday. She even got the opportunity to call each of her surviving children to tell them one last time “I LOVE YOU!” And she reached out to her closest friends to personally THANK THEM for making her journey so special.

We were blessed to take care of her during her last chapter in life and she continued to teach us life lessons including how to die with such grace. Being a caregiver is a true act of LOVE. The verse Love is patient, Love is kind (1 Corinthians 13:4-8) has a whole new meaning. Mom knew her journey was coming to an end and said “I sure had a wonderful life!” She was born an only child in San Antonio, Texas on December 27th, 1933 at the Nix Hospital to parents Roy and Sara Embry. She always talked about that hospital and later in my life I went to the hospital to send her pictures and drive by her childhood home. Mom was a beauty from the start, she won 1st Prize in the 1933 National Baby Contest. She was also Queen of the Cinco de Mayo Parade riding on the float. Growing up in Texas, this Southern Belle fell madly in love with a young Air Force Cadet from Chicago, my Dad, William D. Long. They were married September 30th, 1949, at Chapel One on Barksdale AFB the same day my Dad received his military wings. Mom didn’t know it was going to be her wedding day (it was the first time she wore high heals and took the train over) but she was SO IN LOVE there was not a doubt in her mind. She did always want a veil and we made sure she got her veil later in life. My parents began their military lives together with Mom moving to Chicago while Dad was involved in the Korean War. During this time, their first of TEN CHILDREN were born. Mom even made the local paper when Dad returned from service to see his son for the first time after 2 years. One of my friends calculated how long Mom was pregnant in total “that’s over 7 ½ years of being pregnant!” Mom always said “I just loved babies! It was the growing up part that was so hard!” The military moved them from coast to coast for a total of 27 moves – you can only image the stories!  She raised kids when cloth diapers were the thing, raising teenagers in the 60’s, the meals she cooked, the grocery store trips to the commissary, the laundry she cleaned/folded. She was a true SUPER MOM!  She longed for Dad to be home, but he was serving our country and had to support all of us. Mom did work outside the home a couple times but selling Charles of the Ritz at Dillard’s was one of her favorites. She was such a strong woman, she survived cancer, heart scare (AFib), stroke and the Dr even said on her last time in the ER, “Your Mom is one tough cookie!”

In 1976, my parents moved back to Shreveport/Bossier where she continued to call home for over 60 years. It took a lifetime and a lot of trips to Goodwill (her favorite store), but Mom made her home just as her son, Richard once said “Mom, you will get your home just as you like it one day!” And if you ever stopped by 1303, you knew silk flowers, lace, and mirrors with twinkle lights were definitely her thing. After my Dad passed away (2001), she was able to stay in her home for over 20 years thanks in large part to my brother Patrick.  Even after Pat passed away (2018), Mom was able to stay in her home (Thanks to Charlie Poole, The Fuller Family, Teresa Picht, The Solomons and Instacart/Door Dash). After her stroke in 2020 (during COVID), Mom moved to Canton, GA to live with us. It was so sad to say goodbye to 1303, but thanks to Charlie Poole and Mark Sheets, they helped sell the house. Kellee Churchwell, Kaye Luman, Tricia Firth and the Picht’s Family helped to clear out 60+ years of goodies and ultimately giving back to Goodwill but it sure helped make the move smooth. Mom loved knowing her special friends, Juanita Daniels and Bonnie Solomon, were gifted some of Mom’s precious items.  They both sent her pictures of her items’ in their home which just warmed Mom’s heart.

We created a special place in our home for her and she was able to keep her independence until her last day. Her son-in-law Richard cooked her three meals a day and made sure her plates were heated because she hated anything cold. Thanks to Alexa, she ordered from Amazon and controlled her own devices. She would get Alexa to play George Beverly Shay “How Great Thou Art” and we all knew she was having a good day remembering her church days as a child! She wouldn’t leave her room without her Frankincense Oil, she loved to shake on the exercise machine, and spend many of hours at her makeup mirror plucking. She took excellent care of her teeth and would brush them after every meal. She used a dental pick after every meal and even asked Richard to make sure she had her dental pick when she was leaving in the ambulance. She loved that Dr Michael Cox told her “You have the best teeth I’ve ever seen!” Mom’s beauty was clearly visible with her flawless beautiful skin, but she also had such a beautiful soul. Everyone that would visit loved visiting with her and hearing her stories. If you were lucky enough to drop by 1303 or here, she loved to visit from her comfortable chair. If you got a picture with her and her chair, just know you touched her heart! All our kids’ friends would always stop in to ‘Tell Grandma Hi!”  She just loved her Grandson William’s hugs and her Granddaughter Victoria would always get her what she asked for, including her favorite Pusheen Blanket which she asked for in the end. She got to see how we lived our lives in Canton, celebrate birthdays and holidays, survived without ever getting COVID, watched both our kids graduate high school, and even ended up loving our fur babies, Rex and Benny. She has left a lastly imprint on not only our hearts but our entire lives.

Mom was preceded in death by the love of her life, husband, Ret Lt Col. William D Long, her sons: Daniel Long, Richard Long, Grandson Spencer Long, Patrick Long, and Michael Long. She is survived by her eldest son Robert W Long (Kentucky) who called her every week, her youngest son John C Long (CO/MI/FL) and his beautiful family (Keli, Maggie and Michael Ford, Great Grandson Hudson and Katie Long), and her daughters Linda L Hill (Sara and Courtland (Great Grandson Conrad), Lynette Long (Megan Long (Great Grandson Rowan), Lisa Long (who loved to call and send her goodies) and #10 Deborah Piper (Best Son-in-law/caregiver ever, Richard Piper and Grandchildren Victoria and William Piper who were great helpers). We were truly blessed to have the love and support of our friends and community to help us during her final years. We couldn’t have done this without the help from Cherokee County Senior Center (Gail Giardina), The Catz Transportation, Dynamic Hospice (especially Angela Flowers), our wonderful neighbors Van and Rebecca Scott, Pamela Hanger, Jill Northover and CR Hill. Dana Shadburn would come to the house to cut Mom’s hair with such TLC and Jessie McCarty (Horizon Healing) gave Mom the best massages from the comfort of her chair. We will forever be grateful to the Local Cherokee Fire Department and 911 Ambulance for being Mom’s Knights in Shining Armor as they transported her to Northside Hospital. The Doctors and Hospice/Comfort Care personnel provided exceptional care with such compassion, kindness, and empathy which will never be forgotten.

We are honoring Mom’s wishes by having her cremated and thanks to “In Their Honor” of Jasper who are providing military honors handling her final wishes with the upmost special care. We will have a Celebration of Life on Mom’s 90th Birthday on 12/27th @ 5pm at our home.

In closing, Mom loved to tell the story of when I was born, they used the Leboyer Method of Birthing which ensured my birth was calm and stress free. It was the HONOR OF MY LIFE to repay this act of love and ensure Mom had this same peace when she left.  She was the first person to hold my hand when I came into this life, and I was there holding her hand when she left. Rest in peace Mom, you will forever be in my heart!

“I will not forget you. I have carved you on the palm of my hand…” – Isaiah 49:15

To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Jean Embry Long, please visit our flower store.

Guestbook

Visits: 0

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the
Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors