Katy Long

1987 - 2026

Katy Cassandra Long, age 38, died peacefully in Carmel, Indiana. Born and raised in El Dorado, Kansas, Katy was a graduate of El Dorado High School and later received her Master's degree at Kansas State University, where she carried a lifelong love for the Wildcats.

Katy fought a rare cancer, Extraosseous Ewing Sarcoma. Make no mistake, Katy didn't just "fight" Extraosseous Ewing Sarcoma; she engaged it in a protracted war of attrition that the universe had no business starting. Confronted with a cancer so rare it practically required a library card to pronounce; Katy met every grueling mile of the journey with a brand of courage that would make a Spartan look twitchy. Her spirit wasn't just unbreakable, it was relentless; a bright, defiant middle finger to the inevitable that burned undimmed until the very last second.

To say Katy had a "way with words" is like saying a hurricane has a "way with wind". She wielded language like a scalpel, possessed a heart that could house a city, and a soul so unapologetically fierce it didn't just walk into a room; it made landfall like a storm front that refused to negotiate.

She was, quite literally, a limited edition of one.

Her laughter was a shield against the darkness, a melody capable of lifting the heaviest heart within the halls of her kin. She carried a smile that felt like dawn breaking over the mountains: warm, unwavering, and true. Yet let no one mistake her kindness for frailty. Katy was a fierce guardian of her house, a lioness among her people, standing as a pillar of strength for those she loved, unwavering in her loyalty to family and friends and protective beyond measure. No storm could shake her resolve, and no foe could dampen the fire of her loyalty.

Many accurately compared her to a Klondike bar: you had to work for it. But once you successfully navigated the outer casing of razor-sharp wit and ink-black humor, a shell designed to keep the unworthy at bay, you were rewarded with a core of pure, unadulterated sweetness. To have known her was a privilege; to have been loved by her was a triumph. We will miss her every single day, though she'd likely tell us to stop moping and find a better hobby.

She is survived by her parents, Mark and Mary Long; her brothers, Jake (Claire), Josh (Jessica), and Lukas Long; her partner, Lacey Salas; nieces Avery, Finley, and Maeve; nephew Calvin; and her beloved cat, Micah, who was her constant companion and comfort.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Katy's honor to the following charities:

*The Ohio State University – Ewing Sarcoma Research Fund (https://giveto.osu.edu/makeagift/details/312232)

*EQUUS Foundation - For the Love of Horses (https://equusfoundation.org/give/donate-form.php)

*The Trevor Project - LGBTQ+ Support (https://www.thetrevorproject.org/)

*Riley Children's Hospital (https://give.rileykids.org/campaign/721297/donate)