Dr. Madalyn J. Long

Dr. Madalyn Shannon Long, 86, died January 16, 2025 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. She was born March 5, 1938 in El Dorado, Kansas to E. Boyd and Frances (Bracken) Shannon. The Shannon family moved to Bethany in 1945 where Madalyn's father took the position of Dean of Students at Bethany Nazarene College (SNU). Madalyn was a 1956 graduate of Bethany High School, where she was valedictorian and enjoyed playing the flute in band. She attended Bethany Nazarene College where she met her future husband James Long, a kind, intelligent man with the "cute dimples," a deep love of God, and "the cutest curl that hung down on his forehead." After only six short weeks of dating, they became engaged. Madalyn graduated with a degree in Education in 1960 and the couple were thereafter happily married for nearly 60 years.
Madalyn served in Putnam City Schools for ten years, receiving the Teacher of the Year award in 1969. During this time, she obtained a Master of Education and Counseling from Central State University. In 1970, James and Madalyn were blessed with a son, David. She remained home the first few years of his life as a devoted mother. Madalyn completed her Doctoral degree in Education from the University of Oklahoma in 1982. After serving in Oklahoma City Public Schools and at Bethany Nazarene College, Dr. Long completed the final twenty-five years of her education career at Bethany Public Schools, where she served as principal in the high school, middle school, and elementary school. During this time, Dr. Long risked her career to implement significant changes to transfer policies, no longer accepting students expelled from other school systems, while simultaneously promoting excellence for Bethany Schools. When Dr. Long began as principal of Bethany Elementary there were 175 students; upon her retirement there were over 600 students, with families camping out overnight for the opportunity to transfer into Bethany schools. Madalyn's love, wisdom, and presence shaped the lives of thousands of students and played a significant role in Bethany becoming one of the top five school systems in Oklahoma.
Dr. Long was known for her smile, kindness, and her love for God, church, family, friends, and her alma mater. Madalyn was a loving mother and grandmother to her son, David and her grandsons, Andrew and Aaron. While we mourn, we are also incredibly grateful for the time we had with Madalyn and the legacy she leaves behind.
Madalyn was preceded in death by her parents, E. Boyd and Frances Shannon; her beloved husband, James E. Long; her sisters, Sylvia Shannon Evans and Esther Shannon Girouard; and her son, David Long.
She is survived by grandsons, Andrew Long (wife Kylie Simpson) of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and Aaron Long (wife Olivia Long) of Stillwater, Oklahoma; daughter-in-law, Julie Long of Edmond, Oklahoma; and others to include nieces, nephews, cousins, and an extended group of friends she considered family, including the BYKOTA group, who maintained a loving Christian relationship for over fifty years.
Thank you all for your love and support. Rest in peace, Madalyn, you will be missed.
A memorial service will be held January 25, 2025, at 11:00 am in the Mercer-Adams Chapel at 3925 N. Asbury Avenue in Bethany, OK.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in memory of Dr. Madalyn S. Long to the Bethany Public Schools Foundation at bpsforkids.org or at 6721 NW 46th Street, Bethany, Oklahoma 73008.