Obituaries, April 12, 2023

It's never too early to plan ahead. Learn about everything Ellers Mortuary has to offer and tour their facility. Space is limited to 25 people per session. The meal will be catered by Martino's Italian Villa. To register, call 765-457-6644.

Mary F. Long

On April 8, 2023, Mary F. Long passed away after a long illness while being cared for by the love of her life and her best friend, Dan Long. Kokomo was her lifelong home, where she was born to Leslie and Betty Morris on July 26, 1947 Her entire childhood was spent surrounded by siblings in the home built by her father and grandfather. She attended Kokomo High School and Wright’s Beauty Academy, but learned most from books, magazines, and the Weather Channel.

She and Dan were married on March 5, 1965 in Kokomo and celebrated the nuptials by spinning donuts in their ‘52 Ford in the freshly fallen 3 inches of snow blanketing the town. Together, Mary and Dan enjoyed social events, getting together with friends or family, cookouts, and going to Lions Club events. She could always be relied on to bring her famous coleslaw and potato salad to any of these gatherings. As a matter of fact, the grandkids loved her coleslaw so much they were sorely disappointed when she switched to bringing store-bought versions to cookouts.

She enjoyed crocheting, puzzles, amassing collectibles that she endlessly dusted, planning to redecorate, caring for her countless plants, listening to WWKI and We Care, traveling with Dan, shopping, and dining out. All these activities were even more fun for her if she was doing them in the mountains of Tennessee or anywhere she could avoid cold weather. Whatever she was doing, she was humble, modest, and tried to stay out of the spotlight to allow others to shine.

She briefly worked at a flower shop and as a carhop, but spent most of her energy focusing on running the household, on her three children, and all the neighborhood kids and, later, grandchildren who showed up in the house. She was a mom to all and always ready with Kool-Aid and popsicles. Even during her long illness, she radiated positivity and adhered to her beloved words of wisdom she steadily tore out of magazines.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents, one infant sibling, Jimmy, and two great-grandchildren. She is survived by her husband of 58 years, Dan Long, sons Gary (Catrina) Long of Dayton, Darryll (Dawn) Long of Peru, and daughter Shelly (Troy) Hatfield of Bloomington, eleven grandchildren, twenty-six great grandchildren, one great-great grandchild, siblings Melvin Summers of Kokomo, Linda Aldridge of Kokomo, Karen Malkowski of Naples, Florida, Greg Morris of Kokomo, and Robert Morris of Kokomo. She was loved by and will be missed by many.

A visitation will be held Thursday, April 13, 2023 from 2-4 at Eller’s Mortuary and Cremation Center 3400 S. Webster St., Kokomo. Funeral service to immediately follow.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.ellersmortuarywebster.com for the Long family.