Betty Ann Long

Published 1:41 pm Thursday, December 26, 2013

Betty Ann Long, nee McCauley, age 80, of O’Fallon, born January 25, 1933, passed away Friday, December 20, 2013 at her home, with her family surrounding her.

Betty was born and raised in Selma, Ala., graduating from Albert G. Parrish High School in 1951. In 1951, she was crowned runner-up to Alabama’s Maid of Cotton. She married William Rupert Long, Jr., June 23, 1957 at Alabama Avenue Methodist Church, Selma, Ala.

Betty settled in O’Fallon 40 years ago following her husband’s retirement from the Air Force. They had been stationed at Barksdale AFB, La.; Itazuke AB, Japan; Univ. of Alabama (ROTC); Randolph AFB, Tex.; Kadena AB, Japan; and Scott AFB, Ill. They made many lifelong friends along the way. She was a member of PEO Chapter NR, where she spent much time with special friends. She attended O’Fallon First United Methodist Church where she sang in the choir. Betty’s smile and her southern charm will be missed.

She was preceded in death by her parents Felix and Bertha, nee Herrod, McCauley; four sisters Marion Louise McCauley, Margaret Francis McCauley, Ollie Juanita Ratcliffe, and Jean Harper Prince.

Surviving are her husband, Bill Long, of O’Fallon; children William “Alan” (Gelsomina) Long of Peabody, Mass., Cathy (Geoff) Coleman of O’Fallon; dear grandchildren, Jessica Long, Sarah Long, Keegan Coleman and Lilli Coleman; nephew David Ratcliffe of Mobile, Ala., and niece Kathy Longcrier Prince of Selma, Ala.

“Gone from my Sight” by Henry Van Dyke

I am standing upon the seashore. A ship, at my side,

spreads her white sails to the moving breeze and starts

for the blue ocean. She is an object of beauty and strength.I stand and watch her until, at length, she hangs like a speck

of white cloud just where the sea and sky come to mingle with each other.Then, someone at my side says, “There, she is gone” Gone where? Gone from my sight. That is all. She is just as large in mast,hull and spar as she was when she left my side. And, she is just as able to bear her load of living freight to her destined port. Her diminished size is in me — not in her. And, just at the moment when someone says, “There, she is gone,”there are other eyes watching her coming, and other voices

ready to take up the glad shout, “Here she comes!”

And that is dying…

Memorial donations are suggested to O’Fallon First United Methodist Church, Cottey College Education Fund, Alzheimer’s Assoc., or Hospice of S. Illinois. The online guestbook may be signed at www.wfh-ofallon.com.

The family will receive friends from 3:00 – 5:00 p.m., Tuesday, January 7, 2014, at O’Fallon First United Methodist Church.

A Celebration of Life Service will begin at 5:00 p.m., Tuesday, January 7, 2014, at the church, with Revs. Ron Dickinson and Joel Catlin officiating. A reception will follow. Private burial will be at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, St. Louis, Mo.

Arrangements entrusted to Wolfersberger Funeral Home, O’Fallon, Illinois.