Louise Knox Long
April 23, 1931 - January 24, 2014
Louise K. Long, 82, died January 24, 2014 in Dallas, Oregon. She passed away gracefully and peacefully at home, surrounded by her husband, children, and adult grandchildren. She was a shining example of strength, compassion, consideration, and humor up through her last day here on earth.
She was born Mildred Louise Knox on April 23, 1931 in Oskaloosa, Iowa to Ed and Mildred Knox of Eddyville, Iowa. She lived most of her childhood in Eddyville, Iowa and graduated from Eddyville High School in 1949. Louise graduated from Stephens College in Columbia, Missouri in 1951 with an Associate Degree in Radio and Television Writing and a minor in music. After college, she worked as a continuity writer at radio station KOWH in Omaha, Nebraska.
On August 11, 1951 she married her high school sweetheart, Homer D. “Luke” Long. They lived in several cities while Homer was in the U.S. Navy. In 1957 they moved to Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa while he went to college. Upon his graduation in 1961, they moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota where Homer began his career with Univac. In 1966 they moved to Santa Maria, California. In 1972 they moved to Fillmore, California and then back to Santa Maria in 1986. In 1991 Louise and Homer moved to Dallas, Oregon where she lived for the rest of her life.
Louise was a loving wife, devoted mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She was a loyal dear friend to many, and consummate homemaker. Louise enjoyed playing the piano and organ, singing, oil painting, sewing, doing needlework, and helping others.
She was a highly competent secretary who became a Paralegal and worked for three different law firms in California and Oregon before her retirement in November of 2002. Louise was a devout Christian and at the time of her death a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Dallas, Oregon.
She was a 64 year member of the P.E.O. Sisterhood, joining in 1949 in her hometown chapter in Eddyville, Iowa. Louise was the charter holder of a new chapter in Santa Maria, California. She had been a member of seven chapters in Iowa, Minnesota, California, and Oregon and was a chapter president three times.
Louise is survived by her husband - Homer Long of Dallas, Oregon; two sons - Joseph D. “J” Long of Dallas, Oregon and Edgar Knox Long of Fillmore, California; one daughter - Louise Annette “Lou Ann” Long-Eastman of Eugene, Oregon; five grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. She also had one deceased infant brother and two deceased grandchildren.
In keeping with her wishes, no services will be held. Burial will be in Highland Cemetery in Eddyville, Iowa. Donations in lieu of flowers may be made to Doernbecher Children's Hospital Foundation, 1121 SW Salmon St., Suite 100, Portland, Oregon 97205 or to First Presbyterian Church, 879 SW Levens St., Dallas, Oregon 97338.