God called Fern Long home on May 9, 2017, just 16 days before her 102nd birthday.
She was born Fern D. Kasson on May 25, 1915, in Johnson County, Mo. to John A. and Dora L (Burford) Kasson. The family moved near Baldwin, Ks. when she was 8 years old. She grew up in Douglas County, Ks.
She met and married Raymond E. Long, the love of her life, on January 25, 1933, in the Baptist parsonage in Lawrence. To this union 4 children were born: Ann (Long) Hayes, John Long, William Long, and Mary (Long) Beem.
Survivors are John Long, San Antonio, and Mary Beem of Eudora, 8 grandchildren, 19 great grandchildren, and 5 great great grandchildren and one on the way. Many nieces and nephews also survive, as well as cherished friends.
Preceding her in death were her husband Ray, daughter, Ann & husband Duane, son Bill & wife Betty, daughter-in-law Becky, son-in-law Marvin Beem, grandchildren Matthew Beem and Suzi Long, and grandson-in-law Steve Watson. She was also preceded in death by her parents and all seven of her brothers.
Fern was instrumental in helping start the Eudora P.T.A., the Eudora 4-H Club, the Eudora Historical Society, and the Eudora Museum. She spent hundreds of hours editing the Eudora History Book.
She worked at the Eudora Cash hardware owned by the Long and Miner families, and wrote for the Eudora News for many years. She was a member of the Eudora Methodist Church and taught Sunday School there for 70 years. Fern was the ultimate prayer warrior!
She loved gardening, quilting, genealogy, baking, history, and children. She had a vibrant and personal relationship with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and so we know she is now walking on streets of gold.
Visitation will be held Monday, May 15 at the Eudora Baptist Church, 525 W. 20th St., Eudora, from 6:30-8:30 pm, and the funeral will be Tuesday, May 16 at 10:00 am also at the Eudora Baptist Church. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Eudora United Methodist Church or the Eudora Historical Society or Museum, in care of Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home, 601 Indiana St., Lawrence, KS, 66044.
I worked with Fern some forty years ago, my first job out in the working world. Always loved her smile and energy.
I am her brother Norman’s granddaughter, Joy Baber, from Phoenix, AZ. What a pleasure it was to travel with my mom and aunt (Jeannette and Norma) last year and meet with Fern and other relatives for a mini reunion! She inspired us with her memory of days gone by. What a life! May peace be yours and memories be plentiful. Love to you all.
We are so sorry for your great loss……..Fern was such a amazing woman her life was well lived, it sounds like she did so much for Eudoria, I am sure she will be missed greatly, our thoughts and prayers are with all the people who knew and loved her
Fern and Ray were me next door neighbor for years. They were great neighbors and Eudora is loosing a beautiful lady.
Fern was a wonderful woman, who will forever be remembered for all that she did for the Eudora community. She started the Eudora Area Historical Society and served as its first President in 1980. Without her work for Eudora’s history, we would never have had a historical museum. She was a sweet, caring, thoughtful and intelligent woman. She was a dear friend. I will miss her profoundly.
So very sorry to hear of your loss. I have many fond memories of your mom. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
Mary, Machaela and family,
We will not be in town for the visitation or funeral so we wanted to give you our condolences. Fern was an amazing woman and it was
a blessing to have known her. God gave your family an amazing gift in her.
Love,
Tim and Ronda Shepard