Henry Paul Long

Henry "Paul" Long
January 27, 1941 – November 12, 2025
Henry Paul Long, known to everyone simply as Paul, and to some as TCAIT: The Coolest Accountant in Town, left this Earth unexpectedly on November 12, 2025, at Mercy Hospital in Springfield, Missouri, at the age of 84.
Paul was born on January 27, 1941, in Phillipsburg, Missouri, to Henry and Lola Long. He graduated from Central High School in Springfield in 1959, and he remained a loyal and involved alumnus, helping plan reunions for decades and staying connected to the community he loved.
Following high school, Paul proudly served as a cook in the United States Army for two years. After returning home, he earned a reputation as a pillar of the community when he became a well-known and deeply trusted tax accountant. This past April he completed his 59th tax season and was already gearing up for his 60th - work he genuinely loved. Along the way he held many professional titles, including President of the Missouri Accounting Association, but none meant more to him than serving generations of clients who quickly became friends.
In 1959, Paul married Jan Douglas, and for 32 years he was a devoted husband and faithful caregiver until her passing from lung cancer on November 14, 1991. Their marriage gave him two children, Shellie and Stuart, who remained among his greatest joys.
Our family "hit the jackpot" when Paul met Jo Snodgrass. Whether married on paper or long before in their hearts, Paul and Jo spent 35 beautiful years together as husband and wife, companions, adventurers, and best friends. Their secret wedding on August 15, 2021, only made official what everyone already knew: they were inseparable. Their life together brought joy, laughter, and light not only to each other, but to their entire blended family.
Paul was the proud father of Shellie and Stuart, and through them he became "Papaw" to 11 grandchildren and their spouses, a role he cherished more than any other.
His life was rich with hobbies that brought him happiness and brought others closer to him. For years he enjoyed time spent on his houseboat at Table Rock Lake, where he made lifelong dock friends and countless memories. At home, he poured love into transforming his patio into a true outdoor oasis filled with beautiful flowers he tended with care. He was so intuitive with his plants that he knew instantly if one had been moved, shifted, or cut. If he wasn't up the road at the office, he was certainly on his patio sitting by the fire and enjoying the quiet.
He had a passion for photography and nature and often drove back roads in search of old barns, cardinals, and fall foliage. He was always the one behind the camera, less often in front of it. His work was proudly displayed in local galleries and some were even purchased.
He was also an exceptional cook and you knew better than to even step foot in his kitchen when he was at work. He adored his cats and was a devoted "cat dad" to many over the years. Three of them remain behind, Otis, Ginger, and Willow, and are surely missing the warmth of his lap and their shared conversations.
Anyone who knew Paul knew his love for Mexican Villa. He was without a doubt their biggest fan, a familiar face whose presence became such a staple that at times that staff knew him by name. When you are missing Paul, take a trip to your nearest Mexican Villa and order his favorite, a Sancho Enchilada Style.
Paul was a friend to many, always ready to entertain, visit, or share a good story. But his greatest joy, his favorite hobby, was simply being with Jo, his children, and his grandchildren. His warm presence, his contagious laugh, and his comforting hugs will be deeply missed by every one of them.
Paul was preceded in death by his father, Henry Long; his mother, Lola Long; his brother, Loren Long; and his first love, Jan Long. What a beautiful reunion it must have been when he was welcomed at Heaven's gates.
He is survived by his loving wife, Jo Snodgrass Long of Branson West, MO; his daughter Shellie Edwards, also of Branson West; his son Stuart Long (Diana) of Boston, MA; his son Michael Hughes (Christie) of Milton, FL; his son Chris Snodgrass (Stephanie) of Denver, CO; his daughter Kim Hughes of Des Moines, IA; and his many beloved grandchildren: Austin Edwards (Whitney), Lindsey Fann (Colton), Wesley Hughes (Corinne), Nicole Long, Bear Long, Alexis Hughes, Siana Long, Dante Long, and the newest family member-born on the very day Paul passed-Ryett Snodgrass. If that's not the most poetic example of the circle of life, I don't know what is.
We will carry his legacy forward in everything we do, and we will miss him forever.
Services to celebrate Paul's wonderful life will be held Thursday, November 20th, 2025 at Greenlawn Funeral Home in Branson, Missouri. A visitation will be held from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM with his service to follow. The family would like to invite anyone who would like to attend to a reception at Black Oak Grill at the Branson Landing following the service. Please join us in celebrating a life well lived.