Avis Long's Obituary
Avis Dwight Long
Avis Dwight Long, son of William I. and Freda Mable Rumfelt Long, was born June 30, 1923, near St. George, Missouri. He departed this life Friday, October 09, 2009, in St. John’s Hospital, in Springfield, Missouri, at the age of eighty-six years, three months and nine days.
On August 24, 1944, he was united in marriage to Nelma Lovelle Smittle, and to this union three sons were born.
He was preceded in death by his parents;
Avis is survived by his wife of sixty-five years, Nelma, of the home; his three sons, Tom, of Springfield, Missouri, John and his wife, Patty, of Ozark, Missouri, and Randall and Carol Harvey of Lebanon, Missouri; three grandchildren, Chris Long and Dani Emory of Haughton, Louisiana, Amy York and her husband, Andy, of Springfield, Missouri, and Elizabeth Long, of Lebanon, Missouri; three great-grandchildren, John William York, Allison Long and Christopher Henry a number of cousins, including Oscarbelle Austin, of Mountain Grove, Missouri, who was like a sister to him; as well as a host of other relatives and friends.
He was born and raised on the family farm where he has lived, reared and cared for his family throughout the years. He attended the Cold Water School as a child and later served his country faithfully during World War II.
In earlier years he had worked for Cloud Manufacturing “The Knot Hole” in Mountain Grove, helped build the Wright County Court House, was a Civil Service employee at Fort Leonard Wood and also operated the farm.
He centered his life around his family and being on the farm. One of his greatest pleasures was when the grandchildren came to visit, taking them for a ride on the tractor.
Avis was a loving husband, a devoted father, affectionate grandfather and great-grandfather. He will be dearly missed by all those who love him and will live on in our hearts forever.
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