Tony Edmon Long

Tony Edmon Long went home to be with the Lord on Tuesday, January 26, 2010 at the age of 92. He was born December 17, 1917, in Wardville, Oklahoma.

Over the years Tony held many interesting jobs. He worked on State Highways in Oklahoma, the Will Rogers Airport in Oklahoma City, in a saw mill, was stationed with the CCC in Basin, Wyoming, cleared and plowed land for his brother, Pairon, Bethlehem Steel Shipyards Curtis Bay, Maryland. In July 1942 Tony came to Oakland, CA where he worked for Kaiser Shipyards. It was in Oakland that he met and married Lois Hughes, March 5, 1943.

Tony was drafted into the Army in April of 1943 and was stationed at Camp Cook, CA which is now Vandenberg Air Force Base near Santa Maria. Upon discharge a year later he moved back to Oakland and returned to work for Kaiser Shipyards until the end of World War II. At the end of the war he and Lois moved to Santa Cruz and he went to work for a plumber and plasterer until 1948 when they moved to Konowa, Oklahoma and owned Tony and Babe's Café. In 1949 they sold the Café and moved to Dos Palos, CA. Tony worked as a Rice Miller for Cal-Oro Rice Growers and went in 1963 to St. Thomas Virgin Island to help set up a rice plant. In June of 1966 he left the Rice Plant and went to work as a general maintenance worker for the City of Dos Palos and retired in 1978. Tony and Lois moved back to Santa Cruz to care for her mother and Tony went to work for Glen Coley and fully retired in December 1979.

After retirement Tony did volunteer work for the California Grey Bears for the next 28 years.

Over the years Tony's hobbies included fishing, hunting, camping, and traveling. At times Tony played the guitar. He enjoyed watching Jeopardy, Wheel of Fortune, Old Westerns and the Country Music Channel.

Tony is survived by his sisters, Ruby Lewis and Lillie Beal both of Oklahoma. Nieces, Judith Leatherburry of Davis, Oklahoma, and Linda Lawrence of Soquel, CA. Nephew, Mike Hughes of Mead, Colorado and many more Nieces and Nephews.

Tony was proceeded in death by his wife of 60 years, Lois; parents, Ben and Maude Long; brothers Pairon and Herman Long; sisters, Veltie Long, Mary Smith, Verdy McKaskle, and Mildred McDougal.

A Memorial Service will be held on Wednesday, February 3, 2010, at Capitola Manor Assisted Living, 1098 38th Avenue, Santa Cruz. Private interment at Oakwood Cemetery, Santa Cruz. In lieu of flowers donations are preferred to Hospice of Santa Cruz County, 940 Disc Drive, Scotts Valley, Ca 95066.

We would especially like to thank Maria and Manny Corria and all the Staff at Capitola Manor for the wonderful and compassionate care of Tony and for the loving care he received from Hospice of Santa Cruz.