Joseph Long (Mansfield)'s Obituary
Joseph Benjamin Long, son of Benjamin and Marcella Atkisson Long was born August 27, 1948 in Omaha, Nebraska and departed this life on May 6, 2011 in St. John’s Regional Health Center, Springfield, Missouri at the age of sixty-two years, eight months and nine days.
On April 11, 1968 he was united in marriage to Valerie Freeman and to this union three sons were born.
He was preceded in death by his parents; one sister, Virginia Long; eight brothers, Jesse, Mearlin, Frank, Robert, Ray, William, Denzel and David Long and his step-father, Harrison Brickell.
Joseph is survived by his wife of forty-three years, Valerie of the home; three sons, Joseph Long and his wife Leslie of Lebanon, Missouri, Jeffrey Long of Hartville, Missouri and Justin Long and his wife Becky of Portsmouth, Virginia; five grandchildren, Jessica Vaughn, Joseph Long II, Shane, Gabriel and Samantha Long; two great-grandchildren, James Vaughn and Payton Long; seven sisters, Margaret Anglin of Tucson, Arizona, Karen Freeman and her husband Wesley of McKinney, Texas, Patricia Holmes and her husband, G.W. and Rebecca Melton and her husband David of Mtn. Grove, Missouri, Wilma Dawson and her companion, Ray of Elm Mott, Texas, Shirley Long and her companion, Cliff of Brandsville, Missouri and Daisy Delgado and her husband Jose of Wharton, Texas; his mother-in-law, Helen Freeman of Norwood, Missouri along with many nieces, nephews, cousins and other relatives and many friends.
Joseph was born in Omaha, Nebraska but grew up in Mtn. Grove, Missouri where he attended Mtn. Grove Schools. He served his country faithfully in the United States Navy from 1965 until August of 1969. After his military service he went to work at Spaldings in Ava and then worked at Mans-Steel/Hutchens Industries in Mansfield for 32 years before retiring in July, 2008.
In his spare time he loved spending time and playing with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren and enjoyed fishing.
Joseph was a loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother and uncle and a caring neighbor and friend. We celebrate his life and will cherish the many wonderful memories we had with him.
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