Tributes

Jessie Arthur Long died June 11, 2007 in Canyon Lake, Texas at the age of 73 after coping many years with the progressive blood disorder myelofibrosis. He was born September 8, 1933 in LaSalle County, Texas to Raymond Royal and Tressie Mae Arnold Long. After early childhood in the rural community of Millett near Cotulla, Texas, he and his family moved to San Antonio where he graduated from Burbank High School and Trinity University. An active member of Palm Heights Methodist Church, he served on the Southwest Texas Conference Youth Council and received a call to ministry at one of the numerous Mt. Wesley, Kerrville church camps he attended. Responding to that call, he received training at Asbury Seminary Wilmore, Kentucky and Perkins School of Theology Dallas. Beginning his active ministry as a student substitute, he later served United Methodist Churches at Parita, Harper, Star/Center City, Center Point, Seadrift/Austwell, Somerset, Hebbronville/Miranda City, Eden/Paint Rock, Carrizo Springs, Elgin, Raymondville, and Monthalia/Belmont/Leesville for 46 years until his retirement at Canyon Lake. During that time, he was a song leader and speaker for revivals, leader in many youth camps and Family Life Retreats, Sunday School teacher trainer, supporter of UMW and UMM, recipient of counseling training, participant in ecumenical Faith & Order Conferences and A&M sponsored Town & Church Conferences, Emmaus, CROP Walks, planner and participant in Mission Work Teams and Family Life Retreats, member of Southwest Texas Conference boards and committees as well as a state officer in The American Cancer Society and member of The Lions and Kiwanis Clubs, Band Boosters, chaplain and helper with Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts. He married Martha Jane Kaiser Long of Center Point in 1961 and was blessed with the birth of a son and daughter before his wifes death in 1969. Later, he married Frances Mofield Long with whom he shared 32 years of marriage. Since childhood, Jessie was an avid lover of the outdoors. He could sit quietly and become immersed in nature, watching and listening to discover and become refreshed by its many serendipities. He and his family camped all over Texas and in Colorado, New Mexico, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Kentucky and Oklahoma. Jessie loved people and enjoyed conversation and exchanging stories over a cup of coffee and a plate of cookies. He is survived by his wife Frances of Canyon Lake; son David Long, daughter-in-law Sheri and grandson Tanner Scott Long of Bryan; daughter Cyndi Long Rollings and son-in-law Keith Rollings and grandchildren Sara, Shelby, and Kelsey Rollings of Martindale; brother Bill Long and wife Judy of San Antonio, and many sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, nieces, and nephews.

Tributes

Jessie Arthur Long

September 8, 2007 - June 11, 2007