Claude Lester Long, Sr. 1913-1986

Claude Lester Long, Sr., of Dixon, was born on November 12, 1913, at Dixon, a son of Joseph and Lucy Oss Long, and departed this life at 9:25 p.m. on Saturday evening, April 12, 1986, at the residence of his daughter, Anna Ruth, Route 1, Dixon.  He had been ill with cancer for two years and had attained the age of 72 years and five months.

He was first united in marriage on March 20, 1930, to the former Miss Gladys Emma Belle, and to this union, five children were born.  Mrs. Long preceded her husband in death on September 19, 1976.  He was later united in marriage on February 7, 1979 at St. Robert, to the former Mrs. Lena Mildred Hale Martin.

He was a faithful member of the Sheppard Baptist Church near Dixon where at the time of his death he was a deacon and had served as Sunday School Superintendent and Church Training Director.  He had accepted Jesus Christ as his personal saviour and followed his Lord in baptism in 1939 at First Baptist Church in Dixon.  He retired in 1970 from Ft. Leonard Wood Post Engineers where he had worked in maintenance for over thirty years.

He is survived by his wife, Lena Long of the home; one son, Claude L. Long, Jr., Rolla; four daughters, Mrs. Anna Ruth Manees, Dixon; Mrs. Ella Mae Dake, Springfield; Mrs. Roxie Lee Southard, Rolla, and Mrs. Clara Farran, Manchester; one step-daughter, Mrs. Dorothy Hughes, Springfield; seven stepsons, Bill Martin, St. Louis, Tommy Martin, Springfield, Bobby Martin, Tipton, Stanley Martin and Gary Martin, both of Dixon, and Ralph Martin and Terry Martin, both of O’Fallon; three brothers, Everett Long and Raymond Long, both of Dixon, and Emmitt Long, Tucson, Arizona; eleven grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; twenty-three step-grandchildren; eight step-great-grandchildren; and a host of other relatives and friends.

Fond and precious memories of Mr. Long will remain in the hearts of all who knew and loved him.

Funeral services were conducted at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday afternoon, April 15, 1986, in the Dixon Chapel of the Birmingham-Martin Funeral Homes with the Rev. Lindell Shelden, Pastor of Sheppard Baptist Church, and Rev. LeRoy Tucker, Rolla, officiating.

Interment was in the Dixon Cemetery under the direction of the Dixon Chapel of the Birmingham-Martin Funeral Homes.

Active pallbearers were Lawrence Vineyard, Bob Foster, Vernon Long, Richard Fenton, Leroy Stevens, and Raymond Vineyard.

Honorary pallbearers were Bryan Southard, Paul Long, Bruce Southard, Greg Long, Johnny Thompson, J.L. Farran, Mike Dake, Larry Dake and Shawn Alexander.

Memorial contributions are suggested to the Sheppard Baptist Church.