THOMAS MASON LONG

Funeral for Thomas Mason Long, 77, of Alto, was at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Alto Community Fellowship Church with the Rev. Jim Goforth officiating. Burial was in Arnold Cemetery.

Mr. Long died May 27. He was born June 3, 1930 in Mobile, Ala. to Thomas Jefferson and Johanna Louisa Wasserleben Long. He lived for many years in Waco and for the past 16 years in Alto. He was a Baptist and a member of the Masonic Lodge Terrell No.83. He was a member of the Elk City American Legion Post and a Shriner. He spent summers from 1992- 2005 in Elk City, Idaho in a cabin on the Elk Head ranch where he fished, hunted , hiked, backpacked and served as a guide, cook and packer with a mountain hunting and guiding company. He served as a time keeper for the Elk City Omoksee for several years and worked with riders and their horses. He and his wife, Gayla backpacked into the River of No Return Wilderness in 1993.

He was preceded in death by his brother, John Long.

Survivors are his former wife of 31 years and mother of his six children, Joan Welch Long of Texas City; his wife of 10 years, Gayla Long of Alto; two sons and daughters-in-law, Charles Thomas and Ruth Long of Waco and Ernest Virgil and Lorie Long of Alto; four daughters and sons-in-law, Anna Belle and Gene Staneck of Shiner, Jo Ann Louise Long and Frank Horelica of Texas City, Tina Davis of Texas City, Betty Olivia Long and (Bama Girl) Debbe Reynolds of Roundrock; a brother and sister-inlaw, Jimmy and Sally Long of Missouri; grandchildren, Billy, Shannon, Sherri, Dwight, Kari, Heather, Misty, Theresa, Mason, Cassie, Jaycie and Breann; eight great-grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews.

Members of the Masonic Lodge served as pallbearers.

O.T. Allen & Son Funeral Home was in charge.

June 4, 2008

Information from The Cherokeean Herald