Sheldon Ross Long, 62, of Grayling, died at Mercy Hospital in Grayling Apr 24, 2001, after a 30-year battle with immunosuppressive rheumatoid arthritis.
Mr. Long was born Dec 24, 1938 in Ernest, PA to Roy Sinclair Long and Lena Beulah (Martz) Long Wirth.
His family moved from Pennsylvania to Detroit in the 1950s where he attended Cass Technical High School. Not long after, he was inducted into the U.S. Army and served in the Military Police with duty assignments at Fort McClellan, AL and in Germany. He received an honorable discharge in 1959 having attained the rank of Private First Class. Following his military service, he worked for years in investment casting before arthritis disabled him.
Long lived in Grayling for more than five years. Before moving to Grayling, he also resided in Warren, Fraser, and Mt. Clemens.
He was a lifelong learner, forever seeking knowledge of how everything worked or was built. He also loved to work crossword puzzles, play Scrabble, collect coins, and devise methods and devices to make his life easier as his arthritis grew worse.
Preceding him in death were his parents, and brothers, Leslie and Malyn.
He is survived by his former wife and friend, Lynda (Speelman) Long of Uniontown, PA; daughters, Kimberly (Guy) Gaskell of St. Louis, MO and Cheryll (Mark) Ruley of Grayling; and son Scott (Julie) Long of Fife Lake.
He is also survived by eight grandchildren: Bradley and Caitlin Gaskell of St. Louis, MO; Karyn and Kimberly Ruley of Grayling; Heather, Heidi, Serena, and Sarah Long of Fife Lake; brother in law, William (Susan) Speelman of Fraser; and sister in law, Margaret (Leslie) Long of Palm Bay, FL.
Memorial services were held at Kalkaska United Methodist Church in Kalkaska on Apr 28. Pastor Bob Stark officiated.
Arrangements were made by Sorenson Funeral Home and Autumn Valley Crematory.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to one or both of the following: Animal Shelter of Crawford County (note for daily operations), P.O. Box 384, Grayling, MI 49738 or Commission on Aging (note for Meals on Wheels), 308 Lawndale, Grayling, MI 49738.
